On Dec. 1, Dr. Dave A. Chokshi, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, issued an open letter to all New Yorkers, citing the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases and calling on all New Yorkers to remain vigilant about adhering to public health guidance.

In the letter, he said to further protect people who are most at risk for severe COVID-19, the City’s health department was advising adults over 65 and people with certain underlying health conditions, as well as household members and caregivers of these people, to limit activities outside their home, except leaving home to travel to work or school, or for essential purposes including medical care, grocery shopping or pharmacy necessities.

Other recommendations revolved around avoiding public spaces and gatherings, wearing a face covering at all times indoors and outdoors, including around household members who have symptoms of COVID-19, a known exposure to someone with COVID-19, or frequent in-person interactions with the public.

New Yorkers were also asked to stay home if sick, except for essential medical care, including testing for COVID-19, to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

“Additionally, you should maintain routine health care for any chronic health conditions and obtain any necessary vaccinations,” the letter read.”If you have symptoms of COVID-19, contact your health care provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.”

As previously reported by Norwood News on Dec. 8, ZIP code 10467 covering Norwood, Allerton, Pelham Parkway & Williamsbridge had the fourth highest death code in the City at 337 as of that date. The highest death rate, at 436, was in Corona in Queens, followed by Edgemere/Far Rockaway, Queens at 380, and Allerton/Baychester/Pelham Gardens/Williamsbridge in the Bronx at 370.

Since then, ZIP code 10469 covering Allerton/Baychester/Pelham Gardens/Williamsbridge now has more deaths, at 372, the third highest in the City, followed by ZIP code 10467 covering Norwood, Allerton, Pelham Parkway & Williamsbridge, at 337, the fourth highest death rate in the City. The top two ZIP codes for having the highest death rates remain as Corona, Queens, and Edgemere/Far Rockaway, Queens.

The Bronx 7-day COVID-19 positivity rate at 5.78 percent as of Dec. 10 was also above the city average, higher than that in Brooklyn at 5.26 percent, and Manhattan at 2.81 percent, but below those in Queens at 6.02 percent, and Staten Island at 8.31 percent.

Chokshi signed off the letter by saying that a full list of conditions that may increase the risk of severe illness from the virus can be found on the CDC’s website here. For more information about COVID-19, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.

A full version of the letter can be read here.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.