Though New York City has done a wonderful job of flattening the Covid-19 curve there are some new trends that need to be watched which will impact the continued reopening process. Cases are popping up in more affluent Brooklyn and Manhattan neighborhoods that were not hard hit at the height of the pandemic. At the height, the pandemic tore through lower-income communities in the outer boroughs with Black and Latino communities particularly impacted. Now, in addition to an influx of cases in more affluent communities, the infection rate among people in their 20s is rising, while it is falling for people in their 40s. Fortunately, these numbers are still low and overall numbers are still good it is important to ask why this current trend is hitting.
Certainly, one reason is that at the start of the pandemic people with means, particularly from affluent areas of New York City left. As they returned it is logical to expect an uptick in infections in those areas, particularly when cases around the country are surging. When outdoor dining began in June and permissible gatherings increased to 25 people, more and more people, particularly younger people began going out and socializing more. So much so that new enforcement measures had to be enacted due to fears of creating a second wave. It is also possible that the protests over racial injustice are a factor, but the numbers make it very unlikely that is a leading cause. The City Health Department believes that there really is no one leading cause, rather it comes from various places due to increased social interaction.
So, how does this news impact gyms and indoor dining? These industries are desperate for some sort of guidance. The longer there status is in the dark (even with outdoor dining/ small classes) the less likely they will be able to survive.
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