Ditmars-Steinway's Coronavirus Positivity Rate Surges

ASTORIA, QUEENS — The Ditmars-Steinway section of Astoria now has the fourth-highest rate of positive coronavirus tests in New York City, city data shows.

In the 7-day period ending Sunday, over 4.8 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive in the Astoria ZIP code 11105, according to data reported Wednesday.

While that translates into 55 Astorians with new positive tests for the virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio has called the 7-day average positivity rate the "truest measure" of where the city stands in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials are using the 7-day positivity rate as one of several metrics to determine when to enact or lift restrictions on schools, businesses and social gatherings.

“The spike in 11105 is concerning, especially because we haven’t gotten data from the Test & Trace Corps," Terence Cullen, a spokesperson for City Council Member Costa Constantinides, told Patch. "Without it, we can’t tell the public pinpoint information on where or why this is surging."

Constantinides, who represents Astoria, contracted COVID-19 in March and has since dealt with lingering breathing issues and chest pain.

As the positivity rate spikes in his neighborhood, he is working with community partners to ensure residents practice social distancing and have access to protective equipment, his spokesperson said.

In Queens as of Wednesday, Ditmars-Steinway had the second-highest positivity rate after Richmond Hill's 11418 ZIP code, which has crept past 5 percent. Only Tottenville and Great Kills in Staten Island had higher rates.

The data reported Wednesday indicate that Ditmars-Steinway's positivity rate is climbing, though de Blasio has said increased testing likely accounts for at least some of the uptick seen across New York City.

In Astoria, the surge in demand for coronavirus tests has left some un-swabbed.

Adrienne Evans said she was among several people who sought coronavirus tests but were turned away Tuesday evening at the City MD on 31st Street near Ditmars Boulevard, which is within the 11105 ZIP code where the positivity rate is spiking.

"Sorry, but we don't have the capacity to see any more patients," a staffer at the urgent care center told her, Evans recalled in an interview with Patch.

"It brought up a little bit of PTSD from the beginning of the pandemic when you couldn't get a test," Evans said. "To see the numbers slowly creep back up is frightening."