NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Town is battling the worst COVID-19 wave in a yr. The Bronx at present has the best positivity fee and in some neighborhoods that quantity is close to 50%.
As CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge reported Wednesday, elected leaders are involved.
“Whereas it’s alarming proper now, we will get this below management,” Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson mentioned.
FIND TESTING SITES: Click here for New York City’s testing site locator, together with cell websites and at-home appointments
AVOID THE LINES: Click here for NYC Health+Hospitals testing wait times
The borough was devastated by COVID deaths in 2020, and the outlook is now wanting dim.
The Bronx has a 27.9% positivity rate overall. The Fordham, Kingsbridge and College Heights neighborhoods are the best at 47.3%.
“I feel the very fact extra individuals are getting examined is driving up the numbers. The publicity, too. Many individuals nonetheless not sporting face masks,” mentioned Gibson. “We additionally know many individuals aren’t vaccinated.”
Fast exams and PPE will likely be accessible to residents Wednesday at a group middle within the Highbridge part.
COVID VACCINE
As well as, a neighborhood council member has added fast testing alongside busy Southern Boulevard, which will likely be open this week from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. by Sunday.
On Wednesday, folks have been so determined for exams, they waited over an hour within the rain, Duddridge reported.
Jasmine Robles and her son, additionally of Foxhurst, each not too long ago examined constructive. They examined once more Wednesday to see if they’re detrimental and may return to actions.
“The chills and aches went away. The odor, it’s nonetheless not there. The style is in an out,” Robles mentioned.
“Get up and go to the testing websites early. Get there ASAP,” mentioned Ronnie Reed of Foxhurst.
The Bronx has town’s highest COVID positivity fee. In response, Councilman Salamanca arrange a testing tent exterior his workplace at 1070 Southern Boulevard. Open at the moment by Sunday 9am till 6pm. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/A2fyMFxpQU
— Natalie Duddridge (@NatDuddridgeTV) January 5, 2022
Reed examined constructive for COVID two weeks in the past. When CBS2 caught as much as him, he was testing to get again to work.
“My job requires me to be not solely vaccinated but additionally to have a detrimental check,” Reed mentioned.
However Reed mentioned it has been difficult to discover a check, not to mention await one.
“There’s a whole bunch of individuals in line, ready for hours,” South Bronx Metropolis Councilman Rafael Salamanca mentioned.
That’s why Salamanca arrange a tent exterior his workplace on Southern Boulevard.
“I’m making an attempt to make this a everlasting website till the COVID numbers lower. Sadly, the Bronx has at all times led in issues that aren’t good, in the case of well being disparities,” Salamanca mentioned.
Then there is the ongoing debate about schools.
With the surge, group members and advocates are pushing for extra testing in colleges. Mayor Eric Adams mentioned Wednesday morning his “Plan A” is for lessons to stay in individual.
“We put 1,000,000.5 exams in our colleges so we will determine the kid that has COVID and be sure that the remainder of the classroom is just not contaminated on the similar time,” Adams mentioned.
Adams mentioned distant studying is “Plan B.”
“The most secure place for a kid is in class,” Adams mentioned. “Little Johnny is just not in class? He’s not in his room. He’s within the streets. He doesn’t have his masks on. And then you definately go to these communities the place they don’t have high-speed, broadband WiFi, the place they will’t go surfing and get the training they want.”
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Dad and mom instructed Duddridge they’re nonetheless confused over whether or not they need to get a PCR or fast. An infectious illness physician addressed that query on CBS Mornings.
“With the PCR check, that’s actually a check to find out do you will have COVID. Are your signs from COVID. You had a excessive publicity, do you now have COVID. The antigen exams are actually to find out are you infectious or contagious to different folks. So that you’re making an attempt to reply barely completely different questions with every of these exams,” Dr. Celine R. Gounder mentioned.
These are necessary inquiries to reply to get folks again to work. Adams has mentioned New York Metropolis must stay open in order for millions of people to be able to work and pay their rent.
A number of individuals who got here again with a constructive outcome on Wednesday instructed Duddridge they need they may have accomplished at-home exams as an alternative.
President Joe Biden has promised to mail out 500 million fast at-home check kits to those that request them, however there’s nonetheless no phrase on when that can occur.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is scheduled to ship her State of the State deal with Wednesday, and there’s little doubt she will likely be mentioning extra COVID plans then, too.
CBS2’s John Dias contributed to this report.
