Coronavirus Pandemic's Toll On LIC And Astoria, 1 Year Later

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — One year ago today, New York City saw its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

Although the coronavirus likely arrived in New York as early as the beginning of February, the first confirmed case of the virus in the city was a 39-year-old health care worker who returned from a trip to Iran and tested positive on March 1, 2020.

Shortly after that, an Uber driver in Far Rockaway became Queens' first person to test positive for the coronavirus.

On March 14, New York City marked another grim milestone with the first confirmed COVID-19 death: an 82-year-old woman with emphysema.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has said that day will become an annual "Day of Remembrance" for the 29,000 New Yorkers — and counting — who have died of the virus.

Astoria and Long Island City weathered the pandemic better than many other communities in the borough, but the virus still had its toll.

The neighborhood's case rates were lower than the Queens and citywide averages, but the death rate in Astoria's 11102 ZIP code was higher than both.

In Long Island City's 11101 ZIP code, 52 people have died of COVID-19, and there have been at least 2,160 cases of the virus. That means one out of every 17 people in the neighborhood was diagnosed with COVID-19, and one out of every 708 people died of the virus, according to the NYC Department of Health.

In the four ZIP codes that include a portion of Astoria, 327 people have died and at least 6,390 people have had COVID-19, the data shows.

Here's a look at the NYC Department of Health's numbers for each ZIP code:

11101 (Long Island City)

• Number of cases: 2,160
• Number of deaths: 52
• Cases per 100,000 residents: 5,864
• Deaths per 100,000 residents: 141

11106

• Number of cases: 2,306
• Number of deaths: 75
• Cases per 100,000 residents: 6,161
• Deaths per 100,000 residents: 200

11102

• Number of cases: 2,084
• Number of deaths: 112
• Cases per 100,000 residents: 6,936
• Deaths per 100,000 residents: 373

11103

• Number of cases: 2,107
• Number of deaths: 74
• Cases per 100,000 residents: 6,031
• Deaths per 100,000 residents: 212

11105 (Ditmars Steinway)

• Number of cases: 1,969
• Number of deaths: 66
• Cases per 100,000 residents: 5,441
• Deaths per 100,000 residents: 182

Meanwhile, the coronavirus vaccine is already making an impact on Astoria and Long Island City. Thousands in both neighborhoods have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine.

The numbers only tell part of the story of one year of the pandemic in Long Island City and Astoria. The community mourned the loss of beloved locals. Businesses struggled to stay afloat, but some who lost their livelihood chased their dreams by starting new ventures.

All the while, neighbors came together to help others in need.