Restrictions in red and orange areas of COVID-19 infections in NYC could last for weeks

It’s been more than 10 days from the State ordered the closure of schools and non-essential businesses, as well as imposed limits on religious services on calls red and orange zones high increase in infections COVID-19and the hope that the restrictions will be lifted this week seems distant.

This was announced on Monday Mayor Bill de Blasioafter assuring that although in the most affected postal areas of Queens, (como Kew Gardens y Forrest Hills) there has been a considerable improvement in the reduction of contagions, the measures imposed on October 8 will continue to be implemented. The president even showed that it could take several weeks before the reopening of sites in the red and orange zones is authorized, Created by the Government.

“Overall, we need to see more progress before removing the restrictions,” said the mayoradding, without giving an exact date, that in some areas it will take “another week or two of work, in general”, before decisions are made to lift the restrictions.

“The important thing here is that we continue to see a leveling off in some areas of greatest concern… but we have more work to do,” De Blasio added, Without giving concrete data about infections in the areas most affected by the coronavirus at the moment.

Positive cases increase

Regarding the daily indicators, at a general level, the Mayor mentioned that the positive cases in the last day rose to 2.1% citywidethat is there was a 25% increase, compared to last Thursday, when the cases were of the order of 1.49%. However, the average of the last 7 days stands at 1.62%far from the 5% scheduled by the State to declare an alarm and the 3% to order the closure of schools.

“We need to see more progress in most of these areas in the red and orange zones. (…) We can get out of this in a few weeks, but we have to reduce the numbers. In general, those communities need a little more time.”

De Blasio insisted that it is urgent that all New Yorkers, not only residents of the most affected areas, continue to rigorously apply the basic rules of protection against COVID-19, such as the use of masks, social distancing and continuous hand washing, as well as performing the tests, a point that he considered more troublesome in Brooklyn than in Queens.

The New York leader stressed that the progress made in the affected neighborhoods of Queens is faithful proof that with the commitment of “everyone” the costs can be lowered. numbers “substantially”.

De Blasio He also announced that this week, and based on the data obtained on positive cases in the red and orange zones, measures to follow may be announced.

Cuomo will present a plan on Wednesday

After the mayor’s report, and after mentioning that on the last day there were 14 deaths from COVID-19 in the state, the governor Andrew Cuomo announced that on Wednesday he will present the plan that will be followed so that the areas closed due to the increase in infections reopen.

Cuomo He was optimistic with the positive evolution of neighborhoods in red and orange areas of Queens, such as Kew Gardens and Forrest Hill, which went from rates of 3.82% at the beginning of the month to 1.40% on the last day, but showed that the same is not happening in Brooklyn, which despite the reduction in cases continues at an average of 4.60%, compared to 6.69% almost two weeks ago. Cuomo was more specific, saying that in the past week, Brooklyn has gone from 5.8% of positive cases to 5.2% and Queens from 3.3% to 2.3%

The president made it clear once again that only the State has legal power to determine how and when the affected areas will reopen his businesses and schools and not the City, whose comments he called mere “opinions” that are not “relevant” and that “don’t matter.”

“We can adjust the zones, make them larger or smaller. We will look at what happens from block to block between today and on Wednesday we will announce changes in the zones, ”Cuomo said, explaining in passing that he will present a detailed program on the new phase of reopening in closed areas.

“We are working on guidance similar to what we used in the first phase when (the pandemic) hit us. Not only with figures but with a set of circumstances. If they are cooperating and we see the numbers go down, we will feel more comfortable,” said the Governor, clarifying that, for example, if it is discovered that “three bars” are the focus of the increase in infections and they close to stop the increase, everything will be more easy and warning that despite the red and orange districts, New York It has been an example for the country in handling the pandemic.

“New York has one of the lowest positivity rates in the country, but cases are rising across the country. When we put our infection rate in context, we’re doing well, and we’re doing well because we’re aggressive when our micro-site approach for the fall was targeting outbreaks earlier, and with targeted focus,” the governor said, assuring that before they approve a vaccine, you don’t have to guard down.

“We all hope that winter will be vaccine season, but vaccine administration is going to be the biggest operational challenge we have faced since it began, and we need the federal government to step up. In the meantime, we must all work to maintain our progress by continuing to wear our masks, wash our hands, stay socially distant, and above all, stay strong.”

COVID-19 figures in New York:

• 5.8% of positive cases to 5.2% consolidated in the last week affected areas of Brooklyn.
• 3.3% to 2.3% of consolidated positive cases in the last week in affected areas of Queens.
• 4.60% of positive cases in Brooklyn Red Zones on the last day VS 6.69% on October 3.
• 1.40% positive cases in Queens Red Zones (Kew Gardens-Forrest Hills) VS 3.82 on October 3.
• 0.93% of positive cases in Red Zones of Far Rockaway, Queens on the last day VS 2.33% on October 3.
• 3.32% of positive cases in all Red Zones VS 6.91% on October 3.
• 1.35% of positive cases in red and orange zones on the last day VS 24.64% on October 3.
• 1.13% of cases in NY State excluding red and orange zones on the last day VS 1.02 on October 3
• 2.1% of positive cases in the city in the last day.
• 1.62% is the average number of positive cases in the last 7 days.
• 1.49% was the positive case rate on Thursday.
• 25% increase in positive cases between Thursday and the last day throughout the city.
• 14 deaths were recorded in the last day across the state