STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Parts of Staten Island are on track to enter orange and red zones this week if coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to rise, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday.
During a press briefing, Cuomo said several communities across the state are in a “warning track” this week, including “parts of Staten Island that will go into an orange zone and parts of Staten Island that will go into a red zone” if the trend of coronavirus cases continues at this rate, he said.
“Staten Island is a serious problem,” the Governor said. “Staten Island is also a problem in terms of overburdening hospitals and we’re running into a hospital capacity issue on Staten Island, which we have to be dealing with over the next few days.”
On Sunday, 118 Staten Islanders were being treated for COVID-19 at the three hospital locations on the Island – an increase of 11 since Saturday. Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze was caring for 102 patients, an increase of 10 since Saturday. Richmond University Medical Center is caring for 16 patients, an increase of one since Saturday.
When asked if parts of Staten Island will enter the orange and red zones this week, or if it’s on the path to enter those zones, Cuomo said: “Right now, by the numbers — remember our numbers, we don’t use day-to-day numbers because they bounce — so we use a 7-day average and then once you hit that 7-day average, the number stays constant for 10 days. Unless they dramatically change the trajectory of the infection rate, this week they (Staten Island) areas will go into those zones.”
It’s unclear when or which parts of Staten Island will enter an orange and red zone.
Areas enter an orange zone if the seven-day rolling average positivity is above 3% for 10 days, and it has 10 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on a seven-day average. To enter a red zone, the seven-day average positivity rate has to be above 4% for 10 days.
But when discussing areas with the highest positivity rates of the coronavirus statewide, Cuomo pointed to Great Kills and Bay Terrace, both with a 5.5% rate, and Tottenville with a 5.6% rate.
Nearly the entire borough entered a yellow zone on Nov. 13 because it had 7-day average positivity rates above 2.5%, and its rate of cases per 100,000 people and new daily hospital admissions increased, according to the state.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday during this #AskTheMayor segment on the Brian Lehrer show that it’s only a matter of time before New York City becomes an orange zone.
As the positivity rate for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in the city continues to hover above 3% according to city data, de Blasio said the five boroughs should prepare for additional restrictions, likely around the first week of December.
“Orange zone is coming based on state data and it will happen soon after Thanksgiving – the first week of December – and that means closing indoor dining and gyms,” de Blasio said on the segment.
As a result of the 3% positivity rate citywide, New York City public schools are closed for the foreseeable future. Public school buildings citywide closed on Thursday, and de Blasio said school buildings will remain closed with all-remote learning through the Thanksgiving holiday. The mayor said that he will have an update on a plan to reopen schools before Thanksgiving this week.
YELLOW, ORANGE, AND RED ZONES
What individual micro-cluster zones mean for areas around the state. (Courtesy: The Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo)
Under Staten Island’s current yellow zone designation, businesses are allowed to remain open and indoor and outdoor dining is permitted with a four-person table maximum. Additionally, under the state’s restrictions, bars and restaurants must close by 10 p.m., but can still offer curbside food pickup after that time.
Public and private schools are also able to remain open for in-person learning and must randomly test 20% of the school population weekly. Worship services are limited to 50% capacity.
Mass gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, are usually capped at 25 people under a yellow zone. However, Cuomo introduced even further restrictions statewide. Private gatherings will be limited to 10 people unless more than 10 people live in the same home. Those who “encourage, promote or organize mass gatherings may be fined up to $15,000/day,” according to city directives.
Here’s a look at what will happen if parts of Staten Island enter into an orange or red zone.
An orange zone designation carries the following restrictions:
- Businesses considered to be high-risk must remain closed;
- Outdoor dining is permitted with a four-person table maximum;
- Closure of public and private schools to in-person learning unless all staff and students receive a COVID-19 test and then 25% of the school population is tested weekly (although the governor said at a press conference that a different “test out” procedure may be developed specifically for NYC schools);
- Worship services limited to 33% capacity with a maximum of 25 people;
- Mass gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, are capped at 10 people.
A red zone designation carries the following restrictions:
- Closure of non-essential businesses;
- Restaurants return to take-out only operations;
- Closure of public and private schools to in-person learning unless all staff and students receive a COVID-19 test and then 25% of the school population is tested weekly;
- Worship services limited to 25% capacity;
- Prohibition of mass gatherings.
To find your zone, use the COVID-19 Zone Finder.
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