Harlem's COVID-19 Rates Begin To Dip After Delta Surge: Data

HARLEM, NY — After a frightening few weeks, there are signs that the citywide coronavirus spike driven by the delta variant may be slowing — including in Harlem, where positive tests have begun to drop slightly, data shows.

After plummeting to all-time lows in late spring, cases in Harlem rose consistently starting in June as the highly contagious variant spread throughout the city. By early August, most of Harlem's ZIP codes were recording their highest positivity rates since April.

During the week that ended Saturday, however, most Harlem ZIP codes posted lower positivity rates than they had earlier in August, according to city data.

Of the eight ZIP codes that span East, Central and West Harlem, seven had lower positivity rates between Aug. 22-28 than they did in the weeks before. Only one, 10030 in Central Harlem, still appeared to be rising.

It is too early to know whether the trend will hold, and other parts of the U.S. have seen far more catastrophic delta spikes that have overwhelmed hospitals. Experts have said the U.S. may be in for a bumpy few months, especially as children return to school in September.

Meanwhile, vaccinations continue to rise modestly in Harlem, with about 4,300 Harlemites getting their shots between Aug. 26 and Sept. 2, according to city data.

Here's the latest vaccination breakdown for each part of Harlem:

• 10026 – Central Harlem (South): 57 percent received one dose, 52 percent fully vaccinated
• 10027 – Central Harlem (South)/Morningside Heights/West Harlem: 59 percent received one dose, 54 percent fully vaccinated
• 10029 – East Harlem: 63 percent received one dose, 56 percent fully vaccinated
• 10030 – Central Harlem (North): 53 percent received one dose, 47 percent fully vaccinated
• 10031 – Hamilton Heights/West Harlem: 62 percent received one dose, 55 percent fully vaccinated
• 10035 – East Harlem: 65 percent received one dose, 57 percent fully vaccinated
• 10037 – Central Harlem (North)/East Harlem: 58 percent received one dose, 51 percent fully vaccinated
• 10039 – Central Harlem (North)/Washington Heights (South): 53 percent received one dose, 46 percent fully vaccinated

Find vaccine sites to make an appointment or simply walk in at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.