In Reversal, N.Y.C. Will Close Schools and Businesses in Hard-Hit Areas

Schoolchildren in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park, where there is an increase in coronavirus cases. The mayor plans to close nonessential businesses and schools in this neighborhood and eight others.Credit...Mark Abramson for The New York Times

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that he intended to “rewind” the reopening of nine neighborhoods in New York City that have had a testing positivity rate of more than 3 percent over the last seven days.

That means the closure of nonessential businesses and public and private schools in those neighborhoods, which are in Brooklyn and Queens. Many of them have large populations of Orthodox Jews, and the virus has been spreading rapidly in those communities in recent weeks.

“Today, unfortunately, is not a day for celebration,” Mr. de Blasio said. “Today is a more difficult day.”

The mayor’s plan, which still must be approved by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, marks the first major reversal in the city’s reopening since it was hit hard by the coronavirus in March.

The nine ZIP codes include portions of Far Rockaway, Borough Park, Midwood, Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay and Kew Gardens.

The city is also closely watching 11 additional ZIP codes that Mr. de Blasio described as a “real concern."

In those neighborhoods, the city will curtail indoor dining, which has only just begun.