Upper East Side's COVID-19 Rates: Where Things Stand

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Coronavirus rates have risen mildly on the Upper East Side in recent weeks, part of a citywide trend that health officials have attributed to the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

During the week that ended Saturday, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive was approaching 1 percent in three Upper East Side ZIP codes. In mid-June, by comparison, none was above 0.39 percent.

A total of 21 Upper East Siders tested positive during that seven-day period, according to city data. The trend represents a change from a few weeks ago, when rates in the neighborhood reached their lowest levels since the pandemic began.

The uptick has been most visible in the city's least vaccinated neighborhoods, including several on Staten Island. The Delta variant, estimated to be 50 percent more contagious than the British Alpha variant, made up 45 percent of new cases confirmed through the end of June, according to the city.

"The spread of the Delta variant means that it is perhaps the most dangerous time to be unvaccinated," Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said Monday. "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."

Still, the situation on the Upper East Side is a far cry from where things stood before the vaccine rollout. During January's post-holiday surge, positivity rates in the neighborhood ranged between 3.65 and 5.03 percent.

Meanwhile, the Upper East Side remains one of the city's most heavily vaccinated neighborhoods — between 70 and 85 percent of residents in its five ZIP codes have gotten at least one dose.

Here's the latest Upper East Side vaccine data:

• 10021 — Lenox Hill/Upper East Side: 71 percent first dose received, 68 percent fully vaccinated
• 10028 — Yorkville/Upper East Side: 70 percent first dose received, 67 percent fully vaccinated
• 10065 — Lenox Hill/Upper East Side: 77 percent first dose received, 73 percent fully vaccinated
• 10075/10162 — Lenox Hill/Upper East Side: 85 percent first dose received, 80 percent fully vaccinated
• 10128 — Yorkville/Upper East Side: 73 percent first dose received, 70 percent fully vaccinated

Previous coverage: Upper East Side Coronavirus Rates Plummet To All-Time Lows: Data