Latest on Brooklyn’s COVID-19 Spike: 9/30
September 30, 2020 – The Health Department continues to track 4 concerning clusters of COVID-19 cases in Southern Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Central Queens and Far Rockaway.
There are 10 neighborhoods in these clusters, where cases of COVID-19 continue to grow at an alarming rate – 3.7 times faster than the city’s average over the past 14 days. These are also the only neighborhoods in NYC with positivity rates above 3%, according to DOH.
The ten neighborhoods account for over 27.5% of new cases citywide over the past 2 weeks despite representing 7.5% of the city’s overall population. Fresh Meadows/Hilcrest was added to the list as the neighborhood has surpassed 3% positivity.
Five of the 10 neighborhoods, including Borough Park (11219) Bensonhurst/Mapleton (11204) and Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/ Sheepshead Bay (11229) saw increases from yesterday.
| Cluster | Case Growth case rate in cluster area compared to citywide | Neighborhoods | ZIP Codes | 14-day positivity rate |
| Far Rockaway | 3.82 times the citywide rate | Edgemere/Far Rockaway | 11691 | 4.74% |
|
Southern Brooklyn
|
1.53 times the citywide rate
|
Gravesend/Homecrest | 11223 | 6.90% |
| Midwood | 11230 | 5.62% | ||
| Borough Park | 11219 | 6.51% | ||
| Bensonhurst/Mapleton | 11204 | 6.31% | ||
| Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/ Sheepshead Bay | 11229 | 4.13% | ||
| Flatlands/Midwood | 11210 | 4.66% | ||
|
Central Queens
|
1.52 times the citywide rate
|
Kew Gardens | 11415 | 3.29% |
| Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok | 11367 | 3.68% | ||
| Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest | 11366 | 3.08% |
DOH is also monitoring 7 additional neighborhoods which are showing increased growth of cases and test positivity between 2% and 3% – Williamsburg, Crown Heights (East), Bedford-Stuyvesant (West)/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene, and Hillcrest/Jamaica Estates/Jamaica Hills.
| Cluster | Case Growth case rate in cluster area compared to citywide | Neighborhoods | ZIP Codes | 14-day positivity rate |
|
Williamsburg
|
3.34 times the citywide rate
|
East Williamsburg/ Williamsburg | 11211/ 11249 | 2.06% |
| Bedford-Stuyvesant (West)/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene | 11205 | 2.07% | ||
|
Southern Brooklyn
|
1.53 times the citywide rate
|
Kensington/Windsor Terrace | 11218 | 2.79% |
| Brighton Beach/Manhattan Beach/Sheepshead Bay | 11235 | 2.97% | ||
| Crown Heights (East) | 11213 | 2.30% | ||
|
Central Queens
|
1.52 times the citywide rate
|
Rego Park | 11374 | 2.66% |
| Hillcrest/Jamaica Estates/Jamaica Hills | 11432 | 2.69% |
The Department has observed a slight increase citywide in visits to emergency departments for COVID-like illness over the last week.
The city is asking everyone in the affected areas unless they had the virus in the last 3 months to please get tested so they have more accurate data, and is urging all to continue proper mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing.
8 of the 11 rapid testing units are to be located in Brooklyn:
- McDonald Playground in Gravesend
- Gravesend Park in Borough Park
- Leif Ericson Park in Borough Park
- Kolbert Playground in Midwood
- De Hostos Playground in Williamsburg
- Seth Low Park in Bensonhurst/Gravesend
- Herman Dolgon Playground in Sheepshead Bay
- Paerdegat Park in East Midwood