Can New York avoid a full shutdown?

Even as states across the country put new virus restrictions in place, New York — once the epicenter of the virus — has taken a much more measured approach.

Instead of a full shutdown, officials are banking on a variety of less disruptive, targeted actions, often relying on voluntary compliance. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s strategy has largely been to focus on areas he calls “microclusters,” closing schools and nonessential businesses in harder-hit neighborhoods and regions. In New York City, after the seven-day positivity rate rose above 3 percent, Mayor Bill de Blasio closed in-person classes at the city’s schools as of today.

While New York has a much lower infection rate than many states, the virus is clearly on the upswing. Thousands of new cases crop up daily, hospitalizations have more than quintupled since September, and deaths are on the rise.

Some officials are worried that without a broader shutdown, the state may not be able to effectively control the virus, particularly with pandemic fatigue only growing as the holidays arrive. Many are extremely worried about repeating the mistakes of the spring, when the governor was criticized for not shutting down fast enough. The bulk of the state’s more than 33,600 deaths occurred between March and May.

Mayor de Blasio said today it was “just a matter of time” before the city hit the state’s threshold for entering the “orange zone”: a seven-day average for test positivity above 3 percent for 10 days. Entering that zone, which requires the closing of gyms and indoor dining, was “very likely to be in the next week or two,” he said.
The New York Times