Brooklyn 'Red Zone' To Turn Orange Amid Coronavirus Progress

Park Slope NY

09 November, 2020

1:32 PM

Description

BROOKLYN, NY — Restrictions in Brooklyn's coronavirus "red zone" will be downgraded to a less-stringent "orange" lockdown after progress in the hot spot's COVID-19 surge, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced. The governor said Monday that the Southern Brooklyn red zone — where businesses, schools and houses of worship have been on lockdown since early October — would move to an orange zone. The downgrade comes after Cuomo shrunk the red zone last week after a steady dip in coronavirus cases in the area. The zone was the last of three hot spots in Brooklyn and Queens facing the most restrictive version of localized lockdowns, which were first put in place in October and met with protests. "Brooklyn was quite a fuss when we made it a red zone," Cuomo said, according to reports. "People didn't like the restrictions, but it worked." The improvements in Brooklyn come as the rest of the city faces an increase in coronavirus cases. The city's Health Department released data Monday showing COVID-19 testing results for every New York City ZIP code between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6 as they warn of a long-feared coronavirus resurgence of the virus. The most recent area of concern is Staten Island, where the city plans to send resources given a positivity rate as high 6.57 percent in some neighborhoods. Find more information about restrictions in the state's color-coded zones here: Red zones: Houses of worship: 25 percent capacity, 10 people maximumMass gatherings: ProhibitedBusinesses: Only essential businesses openDining: Takeout onlySchools: Closed, remote only Orange zones: Houses of worship: 33 percent capacity, 25 people maximumMass gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoor and outdoorBusinesses: Closing high-risk non-essential businesses, such as gyms and personal careDining: Outdoor dining only, four person maximum per tableSchools: Closed, remote only Yellow zone: Houses of worship: 50 percent capacityMass gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoor and outdoorBusinesses: OpenDining: Indoor and outdoor dining, four person maximum per tableSchools: Open with mandatory weekly testing of students and teachers/staff for in-person settings