Brooklyn 'red zone' to see increased COVID control measures, restrictions to be eased in Queens: Cuomo

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that coronavirus control measures will increase in Brooklyn's "red zone" while parts of Queens will see their restrictions eased two weeks after the measures were first put in place.

• In Brooklyn, the red zone remains a red zone and will see increased virus control measures; the orange zone moves to a yellow zone; and the yellow zone remains a yellow zone.

• In Far Rockaway, Queens, the red zone moves to a yellow zone; the orange zone moves to a yellow zone; and the yellow zone remains a yellow zone.

• In Kew Garden Hills/Forest Hills, Queens, the red zone moves to a yellow zone; the orange zone moves to a yellow zone; and the yellow zone remains a yellow zone.

• Ozone Park will now become a yellow zone amid an uptick in cases.

• In Rockland County, the red zone remains a red zone and the yellow zone remains a yellow zone.

• In Orange County, the red zone remains a red zone and the yellow zone remains a yellow zone.

In red zones, mass gatherings are banned and nonessential businesses are closed. Public and private schools are also closed for in-person learning and restaurants are restricted to takeout and delivery. Houses of worship are restricted to no more than 10 people.

In orange zones, gatherings are limited to 10 people and houses of worship are restricted to 25 people. "High risk" nonessential businesses like gyms are closed, while restaurants are limited to outdoor dining. Schools are also closed for in-person learning.

Cuomo said Wednesday that the micro-cluster approach is working, with all of the red zone focus areas seeing declines since the last week of September, even if some will remain red zones for now.

"We have it managed. We know how to do this, we just have to do it," the governor said.

The positivity rate in the red zones during the last week of September was 7.9%, while it was 4.5% over the past seven days, Cuomo said.

Meanwhile, the statewide positivity rate without the focus areas was 1.42% and the statewide positivity rate with the focus areas was 1.62%.

Cuomo said that going forward the following metrics will be looked at in hotspot areas after 14 days to decide whether an area may have its restrictions adjusted:

• To exit a red zone: under 3% after 10 days (or 4% in less populated areas)

• To exit an orange zone: under 2% after 10 days (or 3% in less populated areas)

• To exit a yellow zone: under 1.5% after 10 days (or 2% in less populated areas)

Cuomo said the state will also look at other factors when deciding whether to adjust restrictions, including:

• Are new hospitalizations trending downward?

• Are new cases coming from a new source (i.e. congregate facility)?

• Has local government undertaken increased and effective compliance enforcement actions?

• Is the community cooperating with the restrictions?

Meanwhile, with 43 states now on New York's quarantine list, Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state is researching alternatives to quarantines.

"We are working with global experts to see if there's a different methodology to quarantine. How do you use technology? How do you use testing?" the governor said. "There's new testing technology. There are rapid tests. Is there a better, smarter way to handle a quarantine?"

On Tuesday, Cuomo said Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania met the criteria for New York's travel advisory but that "given the interconnected nature of the region and mode of transport between us, a quarantine on these states is not practically viable."

Still, the governor said non-essential travel to and from the three states and New York is highly discouraged.