This archive report was first published on 19 May 2020.
Coronavirus in N.Y.C.: Latest Updates ¶
Published on May 19, 2020
As New York City continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, new data reveals that a Brooklyn ZIP code has the highest death rate in the city. The ZIP code, 11239, has seen 76 deaths among a population of 12,400, with nearly 4% of residents testing positive for the virus.
The city's health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, has apologized for an exchange of harsh words with the Police Department. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is facing challenges in paying private cleaners hired to sanitize subway stations.
Private cleaners hired by the MTA to scrub down subway stations may not be getting paid as much as they should be, according to the city comptroller. Scott M. Stringer has urged the authority to ensure that the workers receive the wages to which they are legally entitled.
As the city begins to reopen, new guidelines have been announced for various regions. In New York, a sixth region, including Buffalo, will be allowed to reopen on Tuesday after meeting the state's standards. In New Jersey, retail stores are now allowed to offer curbside pickup of goods, and nonessential construction projects can resume.
Other updates include the reopening of a slot-machine-only casino upstate, and a guide to antibody testing in New York City. The Guggenheim's tomatoes, which were part of an exhibition that was closed due to the pandemic, are still being tended to by an indoor crop specialist.
