August 26, 2020
At an outdoors news conference today, Congressman Adriano Espaillat announced that Inwood and Washington Heights have the highest positive COVID-19 antibody rate in Manhattan. A third of those tested had previously been infected, according to City data.
Of the 47,603 residents of the four zip codes that comprise these two neighborhoods 33.15% tested positive. The average rate in the borough is 19%. The zip with the highest rate in Manhattan is 10032 where 33.7 came back positive.
Harlem finished second, registering 27% positive while the Bronx led all boroughs at 33%. A positive antibody test indicates a person has been exposed to the coronavirus and their immune system has produced antibodies to fight off the virus.
10032: 33.7% (4538/13465); 10033: 33.4% (4648/13934); 10034: 32.2 (3214/9982); 10040: 33.3 (3399/10222)
This free COVID-19 test site is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11AM-5PM. Staff informed the Gazette that there’s no charge, co-pay, or deductible for the patient but if you have an insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare card you should bring it.
Council Member Mark Levine joined Rep. Espaillat and State Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa at the press briefing. “The truth is, we DON’T have herd immunity,” Levine said, adding that “it’d be a miracle if we don’t get a relapse.” While the City’s overall rate is low, it’s uneven. On the Upper East Side for example it’s <0.5% while in 10034 it’s >2%.