Microcluster Designation Zones explained

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo instituted a color designation to areas of the state with higher COVID infection rates. The zones are, yellow, orange, and red, with red representing areas with the highest infection rates.

Focus Zone determination requirements:

Geographic Area	TARGET METRIC FOR ENTERING YELLOW PRECAUTIONARY ZONE	TARGET METRIC FOR ENTERING ORANGE WARNING ZONE	TARGET METRIC FOR ENTERING RED MICRO CLUSTER ZONE	ADDITIONAL FACTORS FOR ENTERING ALL ZONES
Tier 1  Geographic area (ZIP, census tract, etc.) is located within a county of 900,000 or more people or located within city of 90,000 or more people.  Included in Tier 1: New York City boroughs; Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Erie counties; cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Yonkers	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 2.5% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 10 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 3% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 10 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 4% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 10 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	AND  Geographic areas has minimum of 5 new cases per day on 7-day average for geographic areas (i.e. ZIP code) with 10,000 or more residents, minimum of 3 new cases on 7-day average per day for areas with less than 10,000 residents  AND  The increase in positive cases or positivity reflect community spread and cannot be mostly explained by a cluster in a single institution (e.g. nursing home, factory, college, etc.) or household transmission  AND  The State Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the local department of health, finds that based on the above listed metrics, and other epidemiological factors, such as an upward trend in total and daily hospital admissions from residents of this geographic area, that a zone designation is appropriate.
Tier 2  Geographic area (ZIP, census tract, etc.) is located within a county of 150,000 or more people (and jurisdiction is not included in Tier 1).  Counties included in Tier 2 include:  Monroe; Onondaga; Orange; Rockland; Albany; Dutchess; Saratoga; Oneida; Niagara; Broome; Ulster; Rensselaer; and Schenectady counties	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 3% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 12 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 4% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 12 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 5% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 12 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average
Tier 3  Geographic area (ZIP, census tract, etc.) is located within a county of 50,000 or more people.  Counties in Tier 3 include:  Chautauqua; Oswego; Jefferson; Ontario; St. Lawrence; Tompkins; Putnam; Steuben; Wayne; Chemung; Clinton; Cayuga; Cattaraugus; Sullivan; Madison; Warren; Livingston; Herkimer; Washington; Otsego; Columbia; Genesee; Fulton; Franklin counties	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 3.5% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 4.5% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 5.5% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average
Tier 4  Geographic area (ZIP, census tract, etc.) is located within a county of less than 50,000 people  Counties in in Tier 4 include:  Montgomery; Tioga; Cortland; Chenango; Greene; Allegany; Delaware; Orleans; Wyoming; Essex; Seneca; Schoharie; Lewis; Yates; Schuyler; Hamilton counties	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 4% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 5% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average	Geographic area has 7-day rolling average positivity above 6% for 10 days  AND  Geographic area has 15 or more new daily cases per 100,000 residents on 7-day average

Metrics to Exit a Focus Zone:

Geographic Area	TARGET METRIC TO LEAVE ANY ZONE AREA	TARGET METRIC TO LEAVE ORANGE WARNING ZONE	TARGET METRIC TO LEAVE RED MICRO CLUSTER ZONE	ADDITIONAL FACTORS FOR ALL ZONE DESIGNATION DECISIONS
Tier 1  Geographic area (ZIP, census tract, etc.) is located within a county of 900,000 or more people or located within city of 90,000 or more people.  Included in Tier 1: New York City boroughs; Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Erie counties; cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Yonkers	Geographic area demonstrates decline in positivity (daily 7-day rolling average) over 10-day period AND has positivity below 1.5% (7-day rolling average) for at least 3 consecutive days at end of 10-day period.	Geographic area demonstrates decline in positivity (daily 7-day rolling average) over 10-day period AND has positivity below 2% (7-day rolling average) for at least 3 consecutive days at end of 10-day period.	Geographic area demonstrates decline in positivity (daily 7-day rolling average) over 10-day period AND has positivity below 3% (7-day rolling average) for at least 3 consecutive days at end of 10-day period.	OR  The State Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the local department of health, may find that based on the above listed metrics, epidemiological considerations and/or other relevant factors, or other circumstances that a new zone designation is appropriate, or further data is required before a new zone designation can occur. Additional considerations include:  Trends in the daily hospital admissions from the geographic area  A finding that new cases are tied to a specific congregate facility, or defined cluster  Increased compliance and enforcement actions taken by local government  Community cooperation to reduce viral spread
Tiers 2, 3, 4 Geographic Areas (Monroe; Onondaga; Orange; Rockland; Albany; Dutchess; Saratoga; Oneida; Niagara; Broome; Ulster; Rensselaer; Schenectady; Chautauqua; Oswego; Jefferson; Ontario; St. Lawrence; Tompkins; Putnam; Steuben; Wayne; Chemung; Clinton; Cayuga; Cattaraugus; Sullivan; Madison; Warren; Livingston; Herkimer; Washington; Otsego; Columbia; Genesee; Fulton; Franklin; Montgomery; Tioga; Cortland; Chenango; Greene; Allegany; Delaware; Orleans; Wyoming; Essex; Seneca; Schoharie; Lewis; Yates; Schuyler; Hamilton counties)	Geographic area demonstrates decline in positivity (daily 7-day rolling average) over 10-day period AND has positivity below 2% (7-day rolling average) for at least 3 consecutive days at end of 10-day period.	Geographic area demonstrates decline in positivity (daily 7-day rolling average) over 10-day period AND has positivity below 3% (7-day rolling average) for at least 3 consecutive days at end of 10-day period.	Geographic area demonstrates decline in positivity (daily 7-day rolling average) over 10-day period AND has positivity below 4% (7-day rolling average) for at least 3 consecutive days at end of 10-day period.