Staten Island is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases. Here are the neighborhoods with the highest rates. – SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the borough jumped by more than 50% over the past seven days compared to the preceding week, city Health Department data shows.

At the same time, the death rate on Staten Island attributed to the disease has remained constant, increasing by four in each of the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, coronavirus hospitalizations, which had soared above 300 early in the year, have fluctuated in the low-to-mid-20s since the beginning of the month.

With respect to new COVID cases, ZIP code data on the Health Departments web site depict a surge in certain parts of the city, especially sections of Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

On Staten Island, the ZIP codes with the highest positivity rate were 10307 at 8.16% and 10312 at 7.33% for the period of April 6 through 12, according to the most recent data available on the Health Departments web site.

ZIP code 10307 covers Tottenville, while ZIP code 10312 includes Annadale, Arden Heights, Eltingville, Greenridge and Huguenot.

As of Friday afternoon, 144,404 confirmed coronavirus cases have been recorded on Staten Island since the pandemic struck over two years ago, per city Health Department data.

There had been 144,283 cases on Thursday, for a one-day increase of 121.

On Friday, April 8, there were 143,622 confirmed cases, meaning that number rose by 782 over the past week.

That averages to about 112 cases a day, a boost of 53.4% from the 73 new daily cases the borough had averaged between April 1 and April 8.

As recently as the week between Feb. 25 and March 4, Staten Island had averaged just over 38 new COVID cases per day.

All data is preliminary, subject to change and can reflect lags in collection, the Health Department said.

HOSPITALIZATIONS

Despite the spike in new cases, the number of patients with coronavirus in Staten Island hospitals has remained fairly constant over past two weeks, and, in fact, has dropped considerably since the beginning of March.

As of Friday afternoon, 25 in-patients with coronavirus were being treated in Staten Islands two hospital systems. There had been the same number of patients a week earlier.

Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) had 22 patients, up three from April 8, said Jillian OHara, a spokeswoman.

Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton was caring for three patients, a drop from three from April 8, Alex Lutz, a spokesman, said.

Previously, on both Monday and Tuesday, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the borough had dipped to 20 before rising.

Looking back to the beginning of the month, 23 patients with coronavirus had been hospitalized on Staten Island on April 1.

Still, Fridays overall tally is 31 less than the 56 hospitalizations recorded on March 4. That marks a decline of more than 55% over the past six weeks.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the borough have plummeted after hitting this years peak of 378 on Jan. 11.

Since that time, patient numbers have fallen by 353, or over 93%.

Hospitals must now report the number of patients being treated for coronavirus complications compared to those who test positive for the disease after being admitted for other reasons.

At Richmond University, none of Fridays three in-patients with coronavirus was admitted due to the disease or complications of it, said Lutz. While those patients were COVID-19 positive, the coronavirus was not included as one of the reasons for their admission, he said.

Those patients were hospitalized for various issues, such as emergency care, childbirth, behavioral health, and heart issues and were found to have the coronavirus.

An SIUH spokesman said in-patients there with COVID-19 are being treated primarily for the disease.

DEATHS

Also on Friday, 2,318 Staten Islanders are believed to have died from complications related to the coronavirus, per city Health Department statistics.

The death total had been the same on Thursday and was 2,314 on April 8.

Previously, Staten Island had also recorded four deaths during the one-week period of April 1 through April 8.

The fatalities include borough residents with confirmed coronavirus cases, as well as those whose deaths were considered as the probable result of the disease.

The Health Departments web site does not have a breakdown.

A death is classified as probable if the decedent was a city resident who had no known positive laboratory test for the coronavirus, but the death certificate lists COVID-19 or an equivalent as a cause of death.

The vast majority of confirmed coronavirus deaths in the five boroughs since the outbreak have occurred in individuals with underlying medical issues, which include lung disease, asthma, heart disease, a weakened immune system, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and cancer.

Citywide, 1,987,692 confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported as of Friday afternoon.

As for suspected coronavirus deaths across the five boroughs, that total has reached 40,133.

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Staten Island is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases. Here are the neighborhoods with the highest rates. - SILive.com