Wash Heights, Inwood ZIP Code Has NYC's 2nd Highest COVID Rate

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — The coronavirus rates in one Inwood and Washington Heights ZIP code is now the second-highest in all five boroughs, according to new data released by the city on Monday.

The new data, which shows COVID-19 testing results for every New York City ZIP code between Nov. 6 and Nov. 12, shows a continued citywide increase in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive.

The situation in the 10040 ZIP code is alarming. Residents in the area had a positivity rate of 5.23 during the week, which was the second most out of any ZIP code in the five boroughs.

It is the highest rate in Manhattan.

Only residents in Breezy Point, Queens, had a higher rate at 6.55 percent.

Here is the updated COVID-19 testing data in the four ZIP codes that make up Inwood and Washington Heights between Nov. 6 and Nov. 12.

• 10034 — Inwood/Washington Heights: 1,137 people tested, 26 new cases, 2.29 percent positivity.
• 10040 — Washington Heights (North): 1,051 people tested, 55 new cases, 5.23 percent positivity.
• 10033 — Washington Heights (North/South): 1,502 people tested, 56 new cases, 3.73 percent rate.
• 10032 — Washington Heights (South): 1,824 people tested, 58 new cases, 3.18 percent rate.

As we await today's indicators for New York City's Covid rates, here's a look at Nov. 6-Nov. 12's data

The top Zip code is 11697 (Brzt Pt/Rockaway Pt/Roxbury) with 6.55% positive (11 total cases, this is done by %)

10040 (parts of Washington Heights) is 5.25%, w/ 55 cases pic.twitter.com/kTL2jR0GN5
— katie honan (@katie_honan) November 16, 2020

While the rate of 5.23 percent in Washington Heights is the most eye-catching piece of data, the three other ZIP codes in Upper Manhattan also saw surges in their positivity rates from Nov. 6 through 12 compared to Nov. 2 through 8.

The 10034 ZIP code went from 1.73 percent to 2.29 percent, 10033 went from 2.48 percent to 3.73 percent, and 10032 went from 2.45 percent to 3.18 percent.

The citywide rate was 2.57 on Sunday, less than half of the 5.23 rate seen in Inwood and Washington Height's 10040 ZIP code.

"All residents of Northern Manhattan must take this recent COVID-19 spike seriously, we have some of the highest COVID rates in the city," Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez told Patch. "I am encouraging everyone to follow social distancing guidelines and all other precautions that will hep us stop the spread of COVID-19."

The once-remote possibility of school closures at a citywide 3 percent rate neared reality last week as the city's positivity rate hit 2.83 percent, prompting Mayor Bill de Blasio to warn parents to make alternative plans for their children as soon as Monday.

However, in recent days, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly said that New York City leaders could set a different standard for closing schools.

"Now we know that schools are actually safer than the surrounding community and we should rethink that 3 percent," he said Monday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Patch reporter Matt Troutman contributed to this report.

Read More:

• Wash Heights, Inwood ZIP Code Becomes Manhattan's Top COVID Rate
• Cuomo Suggests NYC Change 3% Coronavirus School Closure Threshold