#COVID-19 clusters in NYC growing at an alarming rate

City Hall revealed late Wednesday that the major southern Brooklyn coronavirus outbreak cluster now spans from Brighton Beach all the way to eastern Crown Heights — as officials added a slew of new neighborhoods to the list of those witnessing concerning spikes in COVID test rates.

Clusters in Southern Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Central Queens and Far Rockaway neighborhoods recorded positive coronavirus infection rates between 3 and almost 7 percent based on a two week rolling average that’s continuing to drive up the citywide infection rate past 3 percent.

Five zip codes in Brooklyn and Queens already on the city’s COVID hotspot watchlist — now grown to 10 neighborhoods with infection rates higher than 3 percent — tracked spikes over a 24-hour period.
Borough Park’s positive infection rate rests at 6.51 percent, up .0.28 percent compared to Tuesday’s data, Bensonhurst/Mapleton saw a 0.26 percent increase over the same time period, bringing the neighborhood to a 6.31 percent average infection rate.

Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay’s infection rate is recorded at 4.13 percent, up 0.08 percent, and Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok is at 3.68 percent — also an increase of 0.08 compared to the previous day.

A new neighborhood — Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest — was added to Gotham’s hotspot list, tracking a 3.08 percent infection rate — a 0.22 increase from the day prior.

Meanwhile, Edgemere/Far Rockaway, Gravesend/Homecrest, Midwood, Flatlands, Kew Gardens saw slight declines in their positive infection rates, although they alarmingly remained above the city’s 3 percent threshold.

These ten areas make up over 27.5 percent of Gotham’s new virus cases over the past two weeks, accounting for 7.5 percent of the city’s overall population.

City health officials also added a new category of seven communities recording virus upticks hovering between an average of 2 to 3 percent — which include Williamsburg, Crown Heights East, Bedford-Stuyvesant West,/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene and Hillcrest/Jamaica Estates/Jamaica Hills.

Viral videos and firsthand reporting by The Post give witness to maskless gatherings and large crowds, despite continuous pleas by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo for New Yorkers to practice social distancing and don face coverings.

De Blasio has also threatened to rollback progress in certain areas if noncompliance persists, and even close public schools should positive infection rates persist above 3 percent on a seven day rolling average.

The clusters — several home to members of the Orthodox Jewish community — have drawn ire from Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who said he spoke with Jewish leaders Wednesday.

“I spoke to the leaders of the Orthodox community this morning and we had a good conversation,” Cuomo told reporters during a late-morning conference call.

“We’re nowhere near herd immunity,” he seethed, listing eight hotspots in Brooklyn and Queens have also landed themselves on a statewide list tracking New York’s top ten zip codes seeing COVID-19 spikes.

Cuomo slammed local governments — without naming Mayor de Blasio — but he did complain that compliance enforcement by the state police were not enough, and he may need local police departments — including the NYPD — to lend officers for a special COVID compliance task force.

“The local governments must do compliance,” he insisted.

“It is a state law and the localities must enforce it…they have to enforce the state law and they’re not doing it with enough diligence. Period.”

“They’ve made it worse, not better,” he criticized local officials.

Cuomo has also questioned members of the NYPD’s alleged refusal to wear masks, asking Tuesday:

“What kind of message does that send?” during a phone call with reporters.

When questioned on the topic Wednesday, De Blasio told reporters officers who flout the rule should “face penalties” he has brought up the issue with NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.

“Our officers should be held to the same standard as all citizens, all public standards,” he said during his daily televised press conference.

The state Health Department recorded a 1.2 percent positive infection rate over the last 24-hour period for New York City.

The statewide average stands at 1.02 percent following 97,960 tests performed and 1,000 recorded as positive.

There were nine deaths in the Empire State, as well as 605 individuals hospitalized, 144 patients admitted to the ICU and of that group, 67 were intubated.

Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks