Crown, Prospect Heights COVID-19 Rates Inch Up Amid Delta Spread

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — After weeks of record-low COVID cases, Crown and Prospect Heights' coronavirus rates have started to rise again in recent weeks, part of a citywide trend that health officials have attributed to the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

Since the week that ended on July 18, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive has been above 1.16 percent in all five of the two neighborhoods' ZIP codes — with as many as 1.82 percent of tests coming back positive in some parts of the neighborhood. Since the start of June, by comparison, rates were well below 1 percent positive in both neighborhoods.

This recent uptick in COVID cases follows a citywide trend, which is most visible in the city's least vaccinated neighborhoods, though some well-vaccinated neighborhoods are seeing a slight uptick in COVID cases, too.

Most ZIP codes in Crown Heights, particularly in the eastern portion of the neighborhood, have consistently lagged the rest of Brooklyn and New York City as a whole in their vaccination rates. Prospect Heights has consistently seen among the highest vaccination rates in the borough.

"The spread of the Delta variant means that it is perhaps the most dangerous time to be unvaccinated," Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said last week. "My message is to convey a clear sense of urgency that we have to make sure as many people are as protected as possible in the next few weeks."

Officials have noted that coronavirus positivity rates might be skewed higher given the lower number of people seeking COVID tests. Hospitalization rates will likely become a more useful statistic as health officials continue tracking the virus, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

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In either case, officials are still encouraging vaccinations, particularly in light of a new study and citywide data that showed that the city's vaccination campaign has prevented about 250,000 new coronavirus cases, 44,000 hospitalizations, and 8,300 COVID-related deaths this year.

According to the data, over 98 percent of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 this year were in unvaccinated people.

By contrast, under 1.6 percent of COVID-related cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were in fully vaccinated people.

In Crown Heights, more than 62 percent of adults and 51 percent of all ages have gotten at least their first dose in two of the neighborhood's ZIP codes. In Prospect Heights, 80.1 percent of adults and nearly 72 percent of all ages have gotten the first shot, data shows.

The 11233 ZIP code — which includes eastern Crown Heights and parts of Brownsville — has the second-lowest vaccination rate in the city, according to the data. Only 38.8 percent of people had gotten at least their first dose in this ZIP code as of Thursday.

Another eastern ZIP code, 11213, is not far behind. Only 39.98 percent of people had gotten at least their first dose in this part of the neighborhood as of Thursday.

By comparison, 58 percent of people citywide and 51 percent of people in Brooklyn have gotten their first dose. In neighborhoods with the highest rates, largely in Manhattan, 100 percent of people have gotten their first dose, the data shows.

Officials have tried to change the low vaccination rates in both 11233 and 11213, which were both put on a state watchlist of the ZIP codes with the lowest vaccine rates.

In recent weeks, in an attempt to expand the city's vaccination campaign, city officials have opened in-home COVID vaccinations to all New Yorkers, and vaccines are still available at hundreds of citywide sites.

"The stakes are so high, and we simply cannot emphasize enough how urgent it is for New Yorkers to get vaccinated," said Dr. Chokshi last week.

Here's a look at where Bed-Stuy's coronavirus rates stand:

• 11238: Clinton Hill/Prospect Heights
  • 1.24%
• 11216: Bedford-Stuyvesant (West)/Crown Heights (West)
  • 1.39%
• 11213: Crown Heights (East)
  • 1.16%
• 11233: Bedford-Stuyvesant (East)/Ocean Hill-Brownsville
  • 1.5%
• 11225: Crown Heights West/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
  • 1.82%

Patch reporters Kayla Levy and Nick Garber contributed to this report.