Harlem COVID Rates Drop To Lowest Levels Since Fall, Data Shows

HARLEM, NY — Coronavirus cases have plunged across New York City in recent weeks, and Harlem is no exception: the neighborhood's virus rates are now at their lowest levels since last fall, according to city data.

In Harlem's eight ZIP codes, the percentage of coronavirus tests that came back positive during the week ending May 8 ranged between 1.11 and 2.77. For most of those ZIP codes, those were the lowest positivity rates they had recorded since October or November.

The welcome decline comes after COVID-19 cases had remained stubbornly high in the neighborhood. Even as they dropped in other parts of the city, Harlem's virus rates were holding steady into late March.

Now, though, amid a vaccine rollout that has put shots into the arms of nearly half of New Yorkers, the drop is unmistakable. In some parts of Harlem, positivity rates in mid-May stand more than 9 points lower than they did during January and February's post-holiday surge, where virus rates climbed above 10 percent in some ZIP codes.

The city celebrated a milestone last Monday when the citywide positivity rate dropped below 3 percent — its lowest number since Nov. 9.

"This is my all-time favorite graph," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, pointing to a chart that showed a steady downward trend. "We want to see that go lower."

Earlier this spring, as the city muddled through a so-called "high plateau" with high virus rates but continued vaccinations, experts predicted that cases would finally drop around mid-May — a prediction that has been borne out.

Latest Harlem vaccine data

Meanwhile, while the citywide vaccination pace has slowed, Harlemites are continuing to get their shots — more than 119,529 neighborhood residents are fully inoculated, according to city data.

An East Harlem ZIP code leads the way with more than 36 percent of its residents fully vaccinated, while a segment of north-Central Harlem has the lowest rate at 26 percent.

Here's the full breakdown:

• 10026 – Central Harlem (South): 41 percent received one dose, 34 percent fully vaccinated
• 10027 – Central Harlem (South)/Morningside Heights/West Harlem: 44 percent received one dose, 36 percent fully vaccinated
• 10029 – East Harlem: 43 percent received one dose, 35 percent fully vaccinated
• 10030 – Central Harlem (North): 35 percent received one dose, 28 percent fully vaccinated
• 10031 – Hamilton Heights/West Harlem: 44 percent received one dose, 36 percent fully vaccinated
• 10035 – East Harlem: 46 percent received one dose, 36 percent fully vaccinated
• 10037 – Central Harlem (North)/East Harlem: 39 percent received one dose, 33 percent fully vaccinated
• 10039 – Central Harlem (North)/Washington Heights (South): 33 percent received one dose, 26 percent fully vaccinated

Find vaccine sites to make an appointment or simply walk in at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.

Previous coverage:

• Harlem's Vaccine Rates Below Average As Virus Holds Steady
• East Harlem Leaders Criticize Sluggish Vaccine Rollout