Health officials and community members addressed a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Borough Park at a press conference Friday.
According to the Department of Health, Gravesend, Borough Park, Bensonhurst, Gerritsen Beach,
Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Flatlands, and Williamsburg are all neighborhoods that are seeing a rise in coronavirus cases.
Some members of the community asked health officials for actual evidence that shows that there is an uptick in the Borough Park neighborhood.
Health officials say they went to the press conference to alert the community about the possibility of a widespread outbreak, if they can’t get the smaller clusters of cases under control.
They say they’ve already been doing outreach efforts, which include handing out hundreds of thousands of masks, handing out pamphlets and having community meetings.
There is also a coronavirus test site in Gravesend Park. However, officials say it’s going to take the help of the entire community working together to help control the spread.
"I want to ask for your help in terms of making this work, getting people to participate, getting people to isolate if they're a positive case, getting
people to share with us who they may have exposed so we can do our work,” said Executive Director at NYC Test and Trace Corps Dr. Theodore Long.
Although there are people in the community who say they don’t believe the information health officials are giving out about the spike in COVID-19 cases, others say they are very concerned.
Health officials say they’re going to be implementing 12 new mobile units starting Tuesday for coronavirus in the city.
The mayor has also threatened closures and reverting to stricter social distancing rules, like no gatherings of 10 people or more, if the number of cases doesn’t go down in those neighborhoods.