Brooklyn 'Red Zone' To Turn Orange Amid Coronavirus Progress

Anna Quinn
Updated ·2 min read

BROOKLYN, NY — Restrictions in Brooklyn's coronavirus "red zone" will be downgraded to a less-stringent "orange" lockdown after progress in the hot spot's COVID-19 surge, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.

The governor said Monday that the Southern Brooklyn red zone — where businesses, schools and houses of worship have been on lockdown since early October — would move to an orange zone.

The downgrade comes after Cuomo shrunk the red zone last week after a steady dip in coronavirus cases in the area. The zone was the last of three hot spots in Brooklyn and Queens facing the most restrictive version of localized lockdowns, which were first put in place in October and met with protests.

"Brooklyn was quite a fuss when we made it a red zone," Cuomo said, according to reports. "People didn't like the restrictions, but it worked."

The improvements in Brooklyn come as the rest of the city faces an increase in coronavirus cases.

The city's Health Department released data Monday showing COVID-19 testing results for every New York City ZIP code between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6 as they warn of a long-feared coronavirus resurgence of the virus.

The most recent area of concern is Staten Island, where the city plans to send resources given a positivity rate as high 6.57 percent in some neighborhoods.

Find more information about restrictions in the state's color-coded zones here:

Red zones:

  • Houses of worship: 25 percent capacity, 10 people maximum

  • Mass gatherings: Prohibited

  • Businesses: Only essential businesses open

  • Dining: Takeout only

  • Schools: Closed, remote only

Orange zones:

  • Houses of worship: 33 percent capacity, 25 people maximum

  • Mass gatherings: 10 people maximum, indoor and outdoor

  • Businesses: Closing high-risk non-essential businesses, such as gyms and personal care

  • Dining: Outdoor dining only, four person maximum per table

  • Schools: Closed, remote only

Yellow zone:

  • Houses of worship: 50 percent capacity

  • Mass gatherings: 25 people maximum, indoor and outdoor

  • Businesses: Open

  • Dining: Indoor and outdoor dining, four person maximum per table

  • Schools: Open with mandatory weekly testing of students and teachers/staff for in-person settings


This article originally appeared on the Park Slope Patch