Upper East Side Coronavirus Rates Dip Amid Citywide Decline

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — After peaking in mid-January, coronavirus rates have fallen on the Upper East Side amid a citywide drop in cases in recent weeks, city data shows.

In most of the six Upper East Side ZIP codes, the percentages of COVID-19 tests coming back positive have declined since last month, when the city recorded its highest-ever positivity rate.

January's surge in cases was attributed to increased travel and indoor gatherings during the holidays. Citywide rates have dipped since then, as they have nationwide — likely due to more mask-wearing, social distancing, and the arrival of the vaccine, the New York Times reported Monday.

The trend hasn't been uniform — during the first week of February, the ZIP codes 10029 and 10128 both hit their highest-ever points.

Here is the seven-day COVID-19 testing data on the Upper East Side between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19:

• 10021 — Lenox Hill/Upper East Side: 1,902 people tested, 45 positive cases, 2.37 percent positivity rate
• 10028 — Yorkville/Upper East Side: 1,723 people tested, 53 positive cases, 3.08 percent positivity rate
• 10065 — Lenox Hill/Upper East Side: 1,539 people tested, 30 positive cases, 1.95 percent positivity rate
• 10075 — Lenox Hill/Upper East Side: 1,070 people tested, 25 positive cases, 2.34 percent positivity rate
• 10128 — Yorkville/Upper East Side: 2,199 people tested, 81 positive cases, 3.68 percent positivity rate

By contrast, during the week that ended Jan. 23, positivity rates were higher in all six ZIP codes, led by 10029 at 7.41 percent. Still, rates on the Upper East Side and across New York remain higher than they were last fall, before the holiday surge.

Declining virus rates in New York have prompted Gov. Andrew Cuomo to loosen some restrictions, including those on indoor dining, which reopened Feb. 12 at 25 percent capacity and will increase to 35 percent on Friday.

That move was hailed by the restaurant industry, but has been questioned by others who point out that the city's virus rates remain higher than they were when indoor dining was first suspended in December.

Meanwhile, leaders hope that the city's vaccination campaign will help further tamp down the coronavirus. Here are the latest vaccine numbers on the Upper East Side, as of Monday:

10021:

• Adults partially vaccinated: 3,250
• Percentage of adults partially vaccinated: 8 percent
• Adults fully vaccinated: 7,526
• Percentage of adults fully vaccinated: 19 percent
• Neighborhood adult population: 39,649

10028:

• Adults partially vaccinated: 2,868
• Percentage of adults partially vaccinated: 7 percent
• Adults fully vaccinated: 6,024
• Percentage of adults fully vaccinated: 15 percent
• Neighborhood adult population: 40,086

10065:

• Adults partially vaccinated: 1,880
• Percentage of adults partially vaccinated: 8 percent
• Adults fully vaccinated: 4,120
• Percentage of adults fully vaccinated: 17 percent
• Neighborhood adult population: 24,466

10075:

• Adults partially vaccinated: 1,876
• Percentage of adults partially vaccinated: 9 percent
• Adults fully vaccinated: 3,720
• Percentage of adults fully vaccinated: 19 percent
• Neighborhood adult population: 19,864

10128:

• Adults partially vaccinated: 3,630
• Percentage of adults partially vaccinated: 7 percent
• Adults fully vaccinated: 8,121
• Percentage of adults fully vaccinated: 16 percent
• Neighborhood adult population: 49,298

Related coverage: Upper East Side Leads Manhattan In Vaccination Rates, Data Shows