Clinton Hill's COVID Rate Is Nearly Double NYC's As Cases Rise

CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN — A citywide rise in coronavirus fueled by the latest subvariant has brought Clinton Hill's positivity to almost double that of New York City's, data shows.

Seven-day positivity in Clinton Hill's 11238 ZIP code — which also includes Prospect Heights — stood at 8.33 percent at the end of last week, nearly twice the 4.8-percent citywide rate, according to health data.

The rate in Clinton Hill is among the highest out of the city's 145 ZIP codes, though the rest of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill has stayed somewhat lower. The neighborhoods' major ZIP code, 11205, had a 6.36 percent positivity as of Saturday, according to the data.

The rising cases come as New York City inches from a "low-risk" to "medium risk" coronavirus status, which is determined by a new color-coded alert level system. Health officials have predicted the city will reach the "medium risk" category by early next week.

The steady increase — which is fueled by the even-more-contagious BA.2 subvariant of omicron — could mean new restrictions, though so far both city and state officials have held off on putting mask mandates or other guidelines in place.

Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that New Yorkers are advised to wear a mask in indoor public settings, but that rates have not yet reached the level needed for a full mandate.

Read More: NYC COVID Cases Inch Higher As 'Medium Risk' Status Looms

The latest surge is far from the winter spike caused by the omicron variant, when infections rose to a staggering 50,000 in a single day. Total daily cases had dropped to under 400 several days in February and stand around 2,200 now, data shows.

Here's a look at where positivity rates stand in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill:

• 11238: Clinton Hill/Prospect Heights
  • 7-day percent positive: 8.33%
  • People tested (reported to date): 1,884
  • New people positive (reported to date): 157
• 11205: Bedford-Stuyvesant (West)/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene
  • 7-day percent positive: 6.36%
  • People tested (reported to date): 1,243
  • New people positive (reported to date): 79