NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — With COVID infection rates coming down in some neighborhoods, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced adjustments to the hot spot zones.
According to the governor's plan announced Wednesday, to exit a red zone an area must report a 3% infection rate after 10 days and 4% in less populated areas, for orange zones it's 2% after 10 days and 3% in less populated areas, and in yellow zones it's under 1.5% after 10 days and under 2% in less populated areas.
Additional considerations include tracking hospitalizations, identifying areas of spread and monitoring local government cooperation in increasing compliance and enforcement.
The numbers are improving, but the red zones remain in Brooklyn and Rockland and Orange counties. Red zones in Queens have been downgraded to yellow.
"We are also adjusting the Queens map to adding Ozone Park, a neighborhood which has seen an uptick in cases," Cuomo said.
The state is also tracking new microclusters identified along the Pennsylvania border.
Click here to find COVID-19 hot spot zones by address.
In red zones, all schools and non-essential businesses must close. Restaurants can operate on a take-out only basis and mass gatherings are also prohibited. Religious gatherings may still occur, but with 25% capacity, or a maximum of 10 people.
In orange zones, all public, private and charter schools will also be closed, as well as high-risk non-essential businesses (such as gyms and personal service salons). Mass gatherings must be limited to 10 people maximum, in both indoor and outdoor settings; but religious gatherings can operate at 33% capacity, or a maximum of 25 people.
In yellow zones, schools may remain open, but students, teachers and staff members must have weekly coronavirus testing done. Businesses may remain open and indoor and outdoor dining may continue, with a maximum of 4 people per table. Mass gatherings cannot exceed 25 people and house of worship can operate at 50% capacity.
Adhering to guidelines like mask wearing and social distancing has paid off in central Queens. Cuomo said in the Kew Gardens area, the red zone went from 4.7% to 2.5%, orange from 1.9% to 1.6%, and yellow 1.9% to 2.1%.
"We got some more to do in some of the other neighborhoods, but I have to say, again, what we're seeing in central Queens reminds everyone that we can move through this quickly," Mayor Bill de Blasio said this week. "Hopefully we get good news on central Queens soon and then the other areas soon thereafter."
The Far Rockaway red zone went from 3.7% to 1.8%, orange went from 4% to 1.7%, and yellow went from 4.4% to 3.5%.
In the past week, Orange County went from a 12.4% to a 4.6% infection rate and Rockland County went from nearly 11.6% to 4.8%.
The infection rate is still going down slowly in central Brooklyn from nearly 6% to 5.2% in the last week.
Cuomo says the microcluster strategy is working and it could prevent the need for another statewide shutdown.
"I hope and I expect that we do it with the microcluster approach," Cuomo said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told WCBS 880 on Tuesday gave credit to the governor's microcluster strategy, saying it could possibly work as a model for other states.
“If you look at the boroughs and see that in certain areas you have the upticks that appear to be somewhat confined there, if you can do that selectively, and it works, that could be the model, but it remains to be seen how well it's going to work and what the durability or the efficacy is going to be,” Fauci said. “But it certainly is a reasonable approach to take because nobody wants to shut everything down again."
Meanwhile, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania all meet the criteria for 14-day quarantines. The governors issued a statement saying they are too interconnected to impose restrictions, but do urge people not to travel unless it's necessary.