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Coronavirus Updates: NY State Daily COVID-19 Positivity Tops 2% For First Time Since June

Sophia Chang

and

Elizabeth Kim

Published Nov 7, 2020

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Governor Andrew Cuomo provides a press briefing last month in Albany.

Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Sophia Chang

and

Elizabeth Kim

Published Nov 7, 2020

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This is our daily update of breaking COVID-19 news for Saturday, November 7th, 2020. Previous daily updates can be found here, and up-to-date statistics are here.

New York City is in Phase 4 of reopening now, which includes zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and gyms. Certain parts of Brooklyn and Queens are under a zoned shutdown. Get answers to questions you may have with our "Ask An Epidemiologist" series, or learn more about NYC COVID-19 testing options with our explainer. Here are some local and state hotlines for more information: NYC: 311; NY State Hotline: 888-364-3065; NJ State Hotline: 800-222-1222.

Here's the latest:

6:15 p.m. The daily coronavirus test positivity rate for New York state rose to 2.19% on Friday, according to the latest data from Governor Andrew Cuomo. It marks the first time the statewide positivity rate has climbed above 2% since June.

The seven-day average positivity rate, which experts consider a more reliable indicator, is at 1.8%. But in New York City, that figure has now been above 2% for two days in a row.

The trend reflects the broader challenges the region is facing as states try to fend off a second wave. Cuomo has long touted New York's low daily positivity rate and has previously said that he wanted to stay within 1%.

But that looks increasingly unlikely as outbreaks grow across the state.

On Friday, the governor relaxed restrictions in so-called "red zones" in Brooklyn and Queens that had been ordered to shutdown due to high infection rates. But he also raised concerns about emerging hotspots in other parts of the state, including western New York and Erie County, which is home to Buffalo.

Closer to the city, the Village of Port Chester in Westchester County went from 96 to 119 virus cases between Thursday and Friday, and will be designated a yellow zone, a precautionary category.

Rather than impose statewide rules to combat rising infections, Cuomo has adopted a "micro-cluster strategy" that uses tiered-restrictions in places with outbreaks.

"It's working in Queens, it's working in Brooklyn," he said, during a phone call with reporters on Friday.

Possible New COVID-19 Outbreak At White House As Trump Chief Of Staff Tests Positive

The White House

Patrick Semansky/AP/Shutterstock

Another COVID-19 outbreak has possibly erupted in the White House, as the chief of staff to President Donald Trump has tested positive for COVID-19 this week, going so far as reportedly trying to keep it a secret.

Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tested positive Wednesday and told a “close circle of advisors,” though it’s not clear if he had experienced symptoms, Bloomberg News reported.

Meadows was with Trump at his campaign headquarters maskless on Tuesday and at his election party that night at the White House, the New York Times said. Meadows went back to campaign headquarters Wednesday, again not wearing a mask, Bloomberg News reported. It was unclear how he is managing the diagnosis.

Four other White House staffers also tested positive this week, including Nick Trainer, a senior Trump campaign adviser, Bloomberg News said.

On Saturday, Politico reported that Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz had tested positive for COVID-19 though the date of the diagnosis was not reported.

In response, Gaetz tweeted Saturday that he has the antibodies and not COVID-19, though he did not explain how he developed antibodies without contracting the coronavirus.

“I have no symptoms and no live virus,” Gaetz told the New York Times in a text message. “No idea when I had virus.”

Back in March, the Republican had mocked mask usage when he came to the House wearing a gas mask to vote on a coronavirus response bill.

Last month, Meadows took off his mask during a briefing with reporters and stormed out of the press conference after they asked him to put it back on.

The first White House COVID-19 outbreak occurred about six weeks ago, linked by top public health officials to a September 26th superspreader event in the Rose Garden to announce the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

At least 31 people tested positive after the event including Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, son Barron Trump, advisers Hope Hicks, Stephen Miller and Kellyanne Conway, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

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covid-19 updates

White House

coronavirus

Sophia Chang

Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.

Elizabeth Kim

Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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