Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced updated COVID-19 micro-cluster focus areas in New York State. Brooklyn's Red Zone focus zone area has new boundaries to reflect a decreased positivity rate and new daily cases in certain neighborhoods. Based on data metrics including testing results and hospitalization rates Queens - Far Rockaway's yellow zone has been removed; Rockland County's red zone focus areas will change to an orange warning zone; and Orange County's orange zone will change to a yellow precautionary zone. Focus zones in Queens - Kew Gardens/Forest Hills and Broome, Steuben and Chemung counties will not change. The Governor also announced a new yellow precautionary zone focus area in Westchester County.
SUNY will test its in-person students before sending them home for Thanksgiving and will keep them home for the rest of the semester. The Governor asked that private colleges in New York consider adopting similar plans.
"As a matter of context, we are obviously in a different phase with COVID, and we've been talking about it for weeks, but we have to fully acknowledge it. The fall phase the scientists all predicted was going to be worse. You're seeing global and national surges that are dramatic, and that's the new reality of COVID. The challenge for our state, like other states, is managing the increase," Governor Cuomo said. "We are going to modify some micro-cluster zones in response to declining positivity rates. In Erie, Monroe, Onondaga Counties, we're going to study them over the weekend. We're going to talk to the elected officials over the weekend, try to find out exactly what is going on, so that we can design a micro-cluster strategy that is responsive. But at these numbers, and in these areas, a micro-cluster response is appropriate. We tailor the micro-cluster strategy to the particulars of that area, and therefore we want to have conversations over the weekend and then I'll have an announcement on Monday as to exactly what we're going to do. Those are the highest places in the state, but again, they're lower than Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania."
Modifications to Current Focus Zones
Brooklyn - Modified Red Zone and New Yellow Zone - Click Here for Map
Since early October, Brooklyn's Red Zone has seen a positivity decline from 5.9% to 3.1% Based on case prevalence data and analysis of where positivity rates remain high and where they have declined, the Brooklyn's Red Zone was redrawn to include a smaller geographic area with a modified Yellow buffer zone area.
Queens - Far Rockaway - Yellow Zone Removed
The positivity in this zone has been consistently in 1%-2% range effectively over a ten-day period with low number of hospitalizations and new daily cases. This zone will be removed and cases continued to be monitored.
Rockland County - Red Zone Changes to Orange Precautionary Zone, Yellow Buffer Zone Remains - Click Here for Map
Since early October, Rockland's Red Zone has seen a positivity decline from 9.8% to 3.6%, meeting the metrics for transitioning from a Red Zone to an Orange Warning Zone. The Yellow buffer zone will remain.
Orange County - Red Zone Changes to Yellow Zone - Click Here for Map
Orange County's Warning focus zone has been under 3% positivity, and hospital admission rates have declined, meeting the metrics for transitioning to a Yellow Precautionary Zone. The buffer zone will be removed.
Focus Zones Without Modifications
Queens - Kew Gardens/Forest Hills - Click Here for Map: The positivity in this zone is currently 2.69% (7-day rolling average), effectively flat over a ten-day period. No changes to zone.
Broome County - Click Here for Map: Yellow Precautionary Zone is unchanged (4.05% current 7-day positivity, down from 7.44% ten days ago)
Steuben County - Click Here for Map: Yellow Precautionary Zone is unchanged (4.15 current 7-day positivity, down from 6.22% ten days ago)
Chemung County - Click Here for Map: Orange Warning zone is unchanged (6.84% current 7-day positivity, down from 8.02% ten days ago)
New Focus Zones
Westchester County - New Yellow Zone - Click Here for Map
The Port Chester area along the Connecticut border has had a sustained average positivity rate above 2.5%, with upticks in new positive cases and hospital admissions, meeting metrics for a yellow zone designation. In response to an increase in cases in Port Chester, NY, the New York State Department of Health, Westchester County Department of Health and Open Door Family Medical Center have coordinated to provide rapid testing at a new site below. To schedule an appointment please follow this link: https://apps.health.ny.gov/
Open Door
5 Grace Church Street
Port Chester, NY 10573
Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday, November 9, from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, November 10, from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy is 3.16 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 1.84 percent. Within the focus areas, 19,084 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 604 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 141,621 test results were reported, yielding 2,605 positives. Full results for tests reported yesterday, the day prior, the current 7-day rolling average, and last two weeks is below:
