Here's Where Uptown COVID Rates Sit Amid Citywide Uptick

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — Coronavirus positivity rates in Washington Heights and Inwood have risen in the last month, corresponding with a citywide uptick in cases.

During the week that ended on Dec. 5, which includes the days directly after Thanksgiving, 2.03 percent of COVID tests in Washington Heights' 10032 ZIP code and 1.69 percent of tests in the neighborhood's 10033 ZIP code came back positive.

These are not staggering numbers, but do represent a legitimate uptick from the 0.54 percent positivity rate seen in 10032 from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 and the 0.8 percent positivity rate seen in 10033 during the same period.

This uptick comes during a time when citywide seven-day positivity averages reportedly rose to the highest they've been in months, and the statewide COVID case rate soared — bringing hospitalizations up, too.

Here's a more complete breakdown of the current COVID-19 situation in Upper Manhattan.

Washington Heights South: 10032

• 7-day percent positive rate: 2.03 percent
• New people positive: 45
• Median daily test rate: 642
• Vaccination rate: 1 dose: 74 percent, 2 doses: 67 percent

Washington Heights: 10033

• 7-day percent positive rate: 1.69 percent
• New people positive: 39
• Median daily test rate: 711
• Vaccination rate: 1 dose: 71 percent, 2 doses: 64 percent

Washington Heights North/Inwood: 10040

• 7-day percent positive rate: 1.95 percent
• New people positive: 29
• Median daily test rate: 591
• Vaccination rate: 1 dose: 72 percent, 2 doses: 66 percent

Inwood: 10034

• 7-day percent positive rate: 2.32 percent
• New people positive: 32
• Median daily test rate: 571
• Vaccination rate: 1 dose: 71 percent, 2 doses: 64 percent

When it comes to Inwood, rates have also ticked up, but not to the point where they were in September.

For the week of Sept. 6 through 12, the 10040 and 10034 ZIP codes had a combined COVID positivity rate of 3.83 percent.

Notably, case positivity and hospitalizations in the recent uptick have been most severe in parts of upstate New York.

Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged to support burdened healthcare facilities by postponing some elective surgeries this week at 32 bed-limited, short-staffed hospitals — all of which are in upstate New York, where hospitalizations are up 150 percent according to Hochul.

"We have the tools to fight this pandemic and you can protect yourself and your loved ones by getting vaccinated and encouraging others to get the shot," the governor said on Monday, noting that getting vaccinated is also a way to reduce hospital capacity, since fully vaccinated people are less likely to be hospitalized with the coronavirus.

Patch reporter Kayla Levy contributed to this report.