NYC Coronavirus 'Watch List' Expands To 13 ZIP Codes

NEW YORK CITY — Nine coronavirus "hotspots" across New York City could soon expand to other neighborhoods without community action, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday said the city's "watch list" of ZIP codes where coronavirus levels are on the rise now stands at 13.

Those areas designated "Tier 2" face potential restrictions on indoor dining and other high-risk activities. Two of them also threaten to pass a seven-day, 3-percent positivity threshold into "Tier 1" — the hotspot category where schools have been closed and potential sweeping non-essential business closures remain on the table.

"We're staying stable with nine in the top category where we need the most action, the most restrictions," he said. "Thirteen that are being watched. Those 13 do not need to end up in that top category."

The neighborhoods, ZIP codes and positivity rates for those watch list areas are:

• Kensington/Windsor Terrace — 11218 — 2.99 percent
• Crown Heights (east) — 11213 — 2.41 percent
• Bedford-Stuyvesant (west)/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene — 11205 — 1.92 percent
• East Williamsburg/Williamsburg (north)/Williamsburg (south) — 11211, 11249 — 2.25 percent
• Bergen Beach/Flatlands/Marine Park/Mill Basin — 11234 — 2.74 percent
• Brighton Beach/Flatlands/Marine Park/Mill Basin — 11235 — 4.12 percent
• Rego Park — 11374— 3.27 percent
• Auburndale/Fresh Meadows/Pomonock/Utopia — 11365 — 2.16 percent
• Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest — 11366 — 2.53 percent
• Hillcrest/Jamaica Estates/Jamaica Hills — 11432 — 2.47 percent
• Forest Hills — 11375 — 1.98 percent
• Williamsburg (south) — 11206 — 1.90 percent

Williamsburg's 11206 is the latest addition to the list. The Brighton Beach and Rego Park ZIP codes are just one day away from being added to the city's hotspot list.

De Blasio recently proposed sweeping closures for the hotspot areas and limited, but still extensive restrictions for the watch list neighborhoods that include closing down indoor dining, swimming pools and other high-risk activities.

But Gov. Andrew Cuomo only approved school closures starting Tuesday for the nine hotspot areas. The further restrictions such as non-essential business closures for the hotspots and watch list measures still need state approval, officials said.

De Blasio again pressed the state to approve them, stressing the city is ready to move forward as soon as Wednesday. He said any closures likely would last between two and four weeks, depending on participation from the neighborhoods.

"The plan I presented is the template to address this," he said. "The state is looking at that template. We understand it's their ultimate decision, they can modify it as they see fit. But the important thing is to make a decision quickly so we can get going."

Patch reporter Anna Quinn contributed to this report.