Today is the first day of school for those who want in-school learning also…
The some of area’s with the increased infection rates are closely related religious enclaves….
For the first time in months, New York City’s daily coronavirus infection rate is more than 3 percent — fueled by hot spots in Brooklyn and Queens, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday as he vowed to ramp up enforcement.
“The fact is for the first time in quite a while, the daily number is over 3 percent and that is cause for concern,” de Blasio said during his daily City Hall press briefing.
Hizzoner said that primarily nine zip codes in Brooklyn and Queens have driven the daily positivity rate up to 3.25 percent, according to the latest city data….
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De Blasio threatened that if progress is not made, the city will move to roll back the reopening efforts in those areas, including the shuttering of non-essential businesses, banning large gatherings and closing private schools.
“It is a situation at this point that is very serious and we have to have all options on the table,” de Blasio said.
The mayor noted that though the daily COVID-19 infection rate spiking, the citywide infection rate based on a seven-day rolling average is 1.38 percent, according to the latest city data….
If the infection rate soars past 3 percent on a seven-day rolling average then Big Apple public schools would close for in-person learning under city standards.
“We’re seeing a different situation than we’ve ever experienced,” de Blasio said, adding, “Nine zip codes out of 146 – the geography is very specific.”…
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NY Gov Cuomo on the ‘hot spots’ locations…
Some of the ZIP codes — there are about 150 ZIP codes in the city — have large Orthodox Jewish populations, the city had indicated, though Dr. Mitch Katz, head of the city’s public hospital system, said that he believed there was growing compliance over the weekend and during the Yom Kippur holiday, one of the most crowded days of worship.
“Multiple leaders reported that in their synagogues everyone was wearing a mask and that people were keeping their distance,” Katz said.
Cuomo also also stated Tuesday that, concerning where those clusters are located, “there’s an overlap with large Orthodox Jewish communities, and that is a fact.”
He said he will be meeting with religious leaders in the Orthodox community and local officials to discuss measures going forward.
“This is a concern for their community … also a public health concern for surrounding communities,” he said. “I’ve said from Day One, these public health rules apply to every religion, atheists …” and to all citizens. “It’s public health comes first.”…
image…Gabriella Bass
WNYC 🎙
@WNYC
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With the threat of targeted lockdowns hanging over Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, some community leaders appear to be taking steps to artificially downplay the severity of COVID transmission….
Article….