Upper West Side COVID-19 Rates See An Uptick: A Breakdown

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Coronavirus rates have risen mildly on the Upper West Side in recent weeks — with one neighborhood ZIP code seeing a significant jump — part of a citywide trend that health officials have attributed to the spread of the more contagious Delta variant.

During the week that ended Sunday, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back reached 0.79 percent for the Upper West Side's three ZIP Codes. In the same week of June, for comparison, none of the ZIP codes were above 0.25 percent.

Lincoln Center's 10023 ZIP code saw the biggest jump, with the positivity rate going from 0.17 during the week of June 6 to 12, to 1.58 percent from July 5 to 11. The ZIP code currently has the 7th highest rate in Manhattan, according to city data.

A total of 32 Upper West Side residents tested positive during the most recent seven-day period. The trend represents a change from a few weeks ago, when rates in the neighborhood reached their lowest since the pandemic began.

Here's a full breakdown of the COVID-19 rates seen on the Upper West Side in July, and how they compare to June.

10025: Upper West Side/Manhattan Valley

• June 6-12: 0.23 percent positive, 7 new positives, 2,980 people tested
• July 5-11: 0.41 percent positive, 8 new positives, 1,957 people tested

10024: Upper West Side

• June 6-12: 0.19 percent positive, 3 new positives, 1,599 people tested
• July 5-11: 0.38 percent positive, 4 new positives, 1,059 people tested

10023: Upper West Side/Lincoln Center

• June 6-12: 0.17 percent positive, 3 new positives, 1,757 people tested
• July 5-11: 1.58 percent positive, 20 new positives, 1,268 people tested

The uptick has been most visible in the city's least vaccinated neighborhoods, including several on Staten Island. The Delta variant, estimated to be 50 percent more contagious than the British Alpha variant, made up 45 percent of new cases confirmed through the end of June, according to the city.

"The spread of the Delta variant means that it is perhaps the most dangerous time to be unvaccinated," Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said Monday. "My message is to convey a clear sense of urgency that we have to make sure as many people are as protected as possible in the next few weeks."

Meanwhile, the Upper West Side remains one of the city's most heavily vaccinated neighborhoods — 74 percent of all residents have gotten at least one shot of the vaccine and 70 percent are fully vaccinated.

Patch reporter Nick Garber contributed to this report.