") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.UeJNJ::before{display:none}}.cwGMas{width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:400px}.gSkBXd{aspect-ratio:16/9}.rAFIl{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.rAFIl{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.rAFIl{max-width:622px}}.dLkuvY{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.jrwZqm{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.dHXFkr{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.dHXFkr:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.dHXFkr:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.lcJUSj{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.hJPJVF{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.hJPJVF::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.hJPJVF::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0),rgba(0,0,0,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.hJPJVF::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.5),rgba(0,0,0,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.hJPJVF::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fff,#000)}}@media(min-width:768px){.PdmgT{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.eMEmGu{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.lfyduH .taboola{display:none}}.lfyduH:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.lfyduH:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.lfyduH:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.lfyduH:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.iUtUOL .tp-container-inner,.iUtUOL .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95);box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px light-dark(rgba(255,255,255,0.95),rgba(0,0,0,0.95))}.iUtUOL.closed{display:none}.dOsHXs{display:block;margin:0 0 16px;color:inherit;text-decoration:underline}.cAWJSb{width:32px}.cAWJSb,.cAWJSb:focus{color:#627aac;color:light-dark(#627aac,#627aac)}.cAWJSb:hover,.cAWJSb:active,.cAWJSb:focus-visible{color:#9cabcb;color:light-dark(#9cabcb,#9cabcb)}@media(min-width:768px){.cAWJSb.mobile-only{display:none}}.kvSIBL{width:32px}.kvSIBL,.kvSIBL:focus{color:#4e4e4e;color:light-dark(#4e4e4e,#4e4e4e)}.kvSIBL:hover,.kvSIBL:active,.kvSIBL:focus-visible{color:#919191;color:light-dark(#919191,#919191)}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSIBL.mobile-only{display:none}}.fAfNYP{width:32px}.fAfNYP,.fAfNYP:focus{color:#25d366;color:light-dark(#25d366,#25d366)}.fAfNYP:hover,.fAfNYP:active,.fAfNYP:focus-visible{color:#66e093;color:light-dark(#66e093,#66e093)}@media(min-width:768px){.fAfNYP.mobile-only{display:none}}.jOXOdf{width:32px}.jOXOdf,.jOXOdf:focus{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.jOXOdf:hover,.jOXOdf:active,.jOXOdf:focus-visible{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}@media(min-width:768px){.jOXOdf.mobile-only{display:none}}.dzqQwN{display:flex;gap:12px}.dFzDMM .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.dFzDMM:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.dFzDMM:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.dFzDMM.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.iJqvPe{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7;color:light-dark(#70a5a7,#70a5a7)}.sQzGY{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.cNueyK{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cNueyK{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.dUmHef{display:flex}.sticky .dUmHef{flex-direction:column}.igSthU{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.igSthU{height:25px}}.fvIzys{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fvIzys::after{content:':'}.knjHva{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff);font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.knjHva::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .gryCYY{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .gryCYY{margin-top:-407px}}.gryCYY>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .gryCYY>p{line-height:27px}.gryCYY>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .gryCYY>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.article-sgi .gryCYY>h2{color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.gryCYY>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.gryCYY span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.FtcnY{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.FtcnY{min-height:450px}}.teads .FtcnY{display:block}.FtcnY [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.cCcguK{display:none}}.cCcguK[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.cCcguK.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.dFpFuY{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.dFpFuY{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.dFpFuY{max-width:622px}}.dmMyEN{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;border-top:8px solid light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e);background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}@media(min-width:768px){.dmMyEN{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.fXvmgM{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.fXvmgM{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.ivTlwT{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.ivTlwT{display:none}}.hfMbpT{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;background-color:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a);color:#ec1a2e;color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}@media(min-width:768px){.hfMbpT{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.dAuNha{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jiDyot{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jiDyot:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jiDyot:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c;color:light-dark(#ac2a2c,#f58992)}.laZbyn{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.juUDRT{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.juUDRT{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.kRWakq{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.kRWakq{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.eJjJXF{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.eJjJXF{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.dLfZIO{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.dLfZIO{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.cqPbFA{order:-1}}.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0),rgba(102,0,10,0))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-mid:light-dark(rgba(253,232,234,0.5),rgba(102,0,10,0.5))}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.jZSKtc .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-to:light-dark(#fde8ea,#66000a)}}.cKWiEj{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.huxBsk{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jaiOuh{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.jaiOuh{min-height:450px}}.jasvOK{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jasvOK{min-height:450px}}.jasvOK.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.jasvOK.mobile-only{display:none}}.jasvOK.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.jasvOK.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.jasvOK.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.jasvOK .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.bYBoJE{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.bYBoJE .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.bYBoJE .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .bYBoJE .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.bYBoJE.sponsored-article img,.bYBoJE.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.bYBoJE.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.bYBoJE .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.bYBoJE .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.bYBoJE .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.bYBoJE .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.bYBoJE .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bYBoJE{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bYBoJE{max-width:624px;margin:0}.bYBoJE.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.bYBoJE{padding-right:0}.bYBoJE .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.bYBoJE .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.bYBoJE .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}.bYBoJE .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222;color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.bYBoJE .big-letter{--color:light-dark(#222,#fff)}}.liYrJc{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#d3d3d3;color:light-dark(#d3d3d3,#d3d3d3);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.liYrJc{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.liYrJc{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.dMNxBE{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .dMNxBE{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .dMNxBE{height:20px}}.dMNxBE::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.dMNxBE:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.dMNxBE{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.dMNxBE::before{margin-top:2px}}.dMNxBE time{display:block}.dMNxBE time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.efpEY{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;color:light-dark(#ef4757,#ef4757);font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.efpEY:hover,.efpEY:active{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}@media(min-width:768px){.efpEY{margin-bottom:0}}.ePBJFt{margin:0 12px 8px -8px}@media(min-width:768px){.ePBJFt{margin-bottom:0}}.fefQOD{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.fefQOD::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#d3d3d3;color:light-dark(#d3d3d3,#d3d3d3);content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.fefQOD:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.fefQOD{margin-bottom:0}}.bMRmfY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bMRmfY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bMRmfY{width:30%}}.dfBarH{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dfBarH{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.dfBarH .sc-mzrbq8-0{order:1}.dfBarH .sc-mzrbq8-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dfBarH{flex-direction:row}}.gkrVhQ{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.gkrVhQ{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .gkrVhQ{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.gkrVhQ{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .gkrVhQ{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.gkrVhQ a{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.gkrVhQ a:hover{color:#f58992;color:light-dark(#f58992,#f58992)}.gkrVhQ a:hover::after{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.gkrVhQ a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.gkrVhQ a:last-child::after{display:none}.gbPKFW{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.bulCXp{margin:0;color:#d3d3d3;color:light-dark(#d3d3d3,#d3d3d3);font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bulCXp{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bulCXp{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bulCXp p{font:inherit}.article-feature .bulCXp a{font-weight:bold}.gOoYlj{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#222)}@media(min-width:1000px){.parallax .gOoYlj{max-width:1240px}}.fdtMsm{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.fdtMsm{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.fdtMsm{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.cuYuhQ{background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#222)}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222;background:light-dark(#222,#222)}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-2,.cuYuhQ .sc-1cmj4ml-0{color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#fff)}.cuYuhQ .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.cuYuhQ .sc-1cmj4ml-0{margin-bottom:16px}.eBMXOi{max-width:100%;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.kFNaRc .sc-qvufca-1{padding:0 16px}}.fzuCgM{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.fmcHss{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.fmcHss.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.hlxBlR{min-height:600px}.hlxBlR #mpu1,.hlxBlR #sidebar1{position:sticky;top:16px}.MxpAk{min-height:250px}.clQXMC{max-width:100%}.eEtnsS{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;color:light-dark(#646464,#bdbdbd);font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.PbXHI{margin:0 0 12px}.hVucHy{height:380px}.pAheK{width:100%;height:51px}.lgmjvx{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#919191,#646464)}.gSAEA-d{margin-bottom:16px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3;border-bottom:1px solid light-dark(#d3d3d3,#919191)}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e;background-color:light-dark(#ec1a2e,#ec1a2e)}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;fill:light-dark(#fff,#000);stroke:transparent}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;color:light-dark(#fff,#222);font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:light-dark(#222,#222)}}@supports(color:light-dark(red,red)){.gSAEA-d [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg-opaque:light-dark(rgba(34,34,34,0.7),rgba(34,34,34,0.7))}}.fgtiQY{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.fgtiQY{display:none}}.eqQkhO{width:308px;height:100%;margin-left:auto}.eqQkhO.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.eqQkhO{display:none}}.article-liveblog .dzfINj{background-color:#f7f7f7;background-color:light-dark(#f7f7f7,#222)}.jBkNwU{justify-content:center}.cumEve{justify-content:center}@keyframes hqVOOe1548920386{from{transform:translateX(0)}to{transform:translateX(-100%)}}@keyframes bReFEb1548920386{from{transform:translateX(100%)}to{transform:translateX(0)}}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News World Americas New York City to close schools and businesses after uptick of Covid-19 cases in nine neighbourhoods A further 11 areas are described as being of real concern by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio
NYC to shutdown nine neighborhoods as Covid-19 cases rise Leer en Español Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more Schools and non-essential businesses in nine New York City neighbourhoods will close again due to an uptick in coronavirus cases, mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday.
Each of the hard-hit areas in Brooklyn and Queens has a testing positivity rate of more than three per cent over a seven-day period.
The mayor’s plan must be approved by Governor Andrew Cuomo and is the first major reversal of the city and state’s staged reopening process.
The nine neighbourhoods include parts of South Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, and Central Queens.
Zip codes 11691, 11219, 11223, 11230, 11204, 11210, 11229, 11415 and 11367 fall under the new guidelines .
Mr de Blasio said that extra resources would be provided to these areas, and that “when presented with new information, we must act. We won’t risk the progress we’ve made.”
Many of the areas mentioned have large communities of Orthodox Jews which have seen a rapid spread of the virus over the past few weeks.
Closures will be in effect from Wednesday, 7 October.
The mayor emphasised that there had been no issues in schools in the areas but that the city must be proactive to protect the safety and health of New Yorkers.
New York has only recently returned to in-person classes. Closures effect both public and private schools.
Restaurants will only be permitted to provide to-go and pick-up services — a blow to businesses that have been permitted to set up outdoor dining for months, and, as of five days ago, indoor dining at 25 per cent capacity.
“Today, unfortunately, is not a day for celebration,” Mr de Blasio said. “Today is a more difficult day.”
A further 11 neighbourhoods were described as being of real concern by the mayor. These comprise of zip codes 11205, 11211, 11249, 11235, 11234, 11213, 11218, 11374, 11366, 11432 and 11365.
New York City was the global epicentre of Covid-19 cases in March and April but has successfully kept its testing positivity rate below one percent for months through a measured reopening plan.
Statewide, the number of cases has begun to climb north of 1,000 per day since 29 September, a level not seen since 6 June.
To date, the city has seen more than 251,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus — statewide that number is 463,000.
There have been 23,844 officially recorded deaths in the city and a further 2,000 across the rest of the state.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments