Likely tied to a recent bulge in visitors on Roosevelt Island, many maskless, coronavirus infection rates again jumped dramatically. And new threats from crowds of cherry blossom lovers may sustain the trend.
With coronavirus infection rates leaping over 25% to 2.31%, this week, Roosevelt Island lags behind dozens of other communities in controlling the now yearlong outbreak. In the week ending April 13th, 9 out of 389 tests were positive.
And Roosevelt Island also showed a worrisome decrease in testing.
All statistics are provided by the New York City Department of Health.
As we reported earlier, residents complained bitterly when visitors enjoying the fresh air during spring break removed their face masks on arrival. Families donning masks required for Tram and subway riders pulled them down or removed them in public areas.
RIOC‘s Public Safety Department reportedly refused to act.
The current city rate of infections is 5.34%, and in Manhattan, it’s 2.49%.
Overall, Roosevelt Island, which for months was among the five best communities in infection rates, is no longer in the top twenty-five.
In other local news…
- Five-Alarm Flushing House Fire Leaves Elderly Woman Dead and 19 Responders InjuredA five-alarm Flushing house fire left one elderly woman dead and injured 19 responders. Details on casualties, response efforts, and local impact.
- Far Rockaway House Fire and Shooting Leaves Two DeadA Far Rockaway house fire and shooting left two dead and shocked the community as police and firefighters responded to the tragic scene. Read how the events unfolded and what comes next.
- Chain-Snatching Spree in Queens Prompts Precinct Coordination and Simple Safety StepsA chain-snatching spree in Queens has sparked coordinated police action and renewed conversations about neighborhood safety. Learn what steps you can take.
- 140 Rentals Proposed for Mixed-Use Building at 50-01 Queens BoulevardA 13-story mixed-use development is planned for 50-01 Queens Boulevard in Woodside, featuring ground-floor retail and 140 rental units, with a portion reserved as affordable housing. Learn about the proposal, affordable housing details, and the next steps for this evolving Queens neighborhood.
- Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy and Ozone Park’s vigilSgt. Angel Rampersad’s legacy touches Ozone Park, Queens, and Roosevelt Island as neighbors reflect after the Ozone Park vigil. Community honors and conversations continue amid grief.
The Line That Didn’t Land
I stood in the back of Good Shepherd Chapel on the evening of April 15, 2026, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, watching people adjust scarves and jackets before the meeting began. Benjamin Jones, President and CEO of RIOC, thanked us for attending and, without a pause, said he was “pleased to host tonight’s town hall on the city’s demolition of its steam plant.” The demolition, in other words, was not up for discussion.
