Breezy Point’s COVID rates are city’s highest

Breezy Point, at the western-most edge of the Rockaway Peninsula, has the highest rate of COVID-19 in New York City.  Map via nyc.gov

By Jacob Kaye

Despite having one of the highest rates of vaccination in all of New York City, Breezy Point’s COVID-19 positivity rate has soared in the past week.

At 15.04 percent, Breezy Point’s 11679 zip code had the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests in all of the five boroughs as of Friday, Aug. 20, according to the New York City Department of Health.

Citywide, the positive test rate is around 3.9 percent.

However, the neighborhood is well vaccinated in comparison with the rest of the city. Around 80 percent of Breezy Point residents are fully vaccinated and 87 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine, city data shows.

Citywide, around 57 percent are fully vaccinated and 63 percent are partially vaccinated.

A spokesperson for the city’s health department said that despite the disparity between the high rate of vaccination and the high rate of infection, Breezy Point residents and New Yorkers citywide should continue to get vaccinated.

“The COVID-19 vaccines are proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death, however the Delta variant has been shown to be more transmissible,” the spokesperson said. “Those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 may still contract and transmit the Delta variant, but vaccination still offers strong protection.”

The fast-moving Delta variant accounted for around 94 percent of all COVID-19 in the city in the past month.

State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who represents Breezy Point, said that he’s encouraging people to get vaccinated and get themselves tested.

“This is a microcosm of the bigger picture, which is an increase in these COVID rates citywide and to an extent, even throughout the state,” Addabbo said. “We’re encouraging people to get the vaccination and making sure the vaccination is accessible, making sure residents know that they should get it and educating them as best we can.”

On the other end of the Rockaway Peninsula, Arverne, Edgemere and Far Rockaway have some of the lowest rates of vaccination in New York City.

While the percentage of positive tests is higher than the city’s average at around 5.5 percent, it’s not nearly as high as it is in Breezy Point.

“It's really odd, because you can follow the numbers and if you go further east on the peninsula in Auburn or Far Rockaway, the vaccination rates are actually low,” Addabbo said. “Obviously, we're watching the COVID rates there.”

Efforts have been made in the past month to boost the vaccination rate in Far Rockaway. At 35.4 percent, Far Rockaway has the lowest rate of fully vaccinated residents in the city.

The city’s department of health said that there are currently no programs targeted specifically at Breezy Point to bring down the neighborhood’s growing rate of COVID-19 and that they’re “working to reduce COVID-19 transmission citywide.”

For Breezy Point residents, the health department said they should get vaccinated if they haven’t already and that “regardless of vaccination status, should still continue to wear masks indoors and in settings around other people.”

Though appointments are no longer required at city vaccination sites, residents can book an appointment or learn more about where to get the shot by calling 877-VAX-4NYC or by visiting vaccinefinder.nyc.gov