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Coronavirus in N.Y.: Family of Westchester Man and Neighbor Confirmed Coronavirus in N.Y.: Family of Westchester Man and Neighbor Confirmed
(32 minutes later)
The family members and a neighbor of the man who was confirmed as New York’s second case of the new coronavirus have also tested positive, state officials said on Wednesday.The family members and a neighbor of the man who was confirmed as New York’s second case of the new coronavirus have also tested positive, state officials said on Wednesday.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, at a news conference, said that the man’s wife; his son, 20; his daughter, 14; and a neighbor in Westchester County, who drove the man to the hospital, were all confirmed cases.Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, at a news conference, said that the man’s wife; his son, 20; his daughter, 14; and a neighbor in Westchester County, who drove the man to the hospital, were all confirmed cases.
The new confirmed cases, which brings the number in New York state to six, came as state and local health officials were scrambling to identify the scope of the illness’s spread from the Westchester father.The new confirmed cases, which brings the number in New York state to six, came as state and local health officials were scrambling to identify the scope of the illness’s spread from the Westchester father.
Mr. Cuomo reiterated, as he has before, that officials expected that there would be many people that would test positive and urged New Yorkers not to panic. Mr. Cuomo reiterated, as he has before, that officials expected that there would be many people that would test positive and urged New Yorkers not to panic.
“By definition, the more you test, the more people you will find who test positive,” he said.“By definition, the more you test, the more people you will find who test positive,” he said.
The discovery that the Westchester father, a man of about 50 who works at a law firm in Manhattan, had the illness, set off a search by health officials across the region to determine whether he had infected others, and who might have infected him.The discovery that the Westchester father, a man of about 50 who works at a law firm in Manhattan, had the illness, set off a search by health officials across the region to determine whether he had infected others, and who might have infected him.
All four people who were confirmed on Wednesday to have the virus had been in close contact with the Westchester man in closed environments.All four people who were confirmed on Wednesday to have the virus had been in close contact with the Westchester man in closed environments.
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Officials had little clue as to how the man, who had not been to any areas with widespread transmission of the virus, became infected. He became ill on Feb. 22 and was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y., five days later.Officials had little clue as to how the man, who had not been to any areas with widespread transmission of the virus, became infected. He became ill on Feb. 22 and was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y., five days later.
So far, public health workers have told some nurses and doctors at the hospital that they would need to be quarantined.So far, public health workers have told some nurses and doctors at the hospital that they would need to be quarantined.
At the hospital’s front entrance on Wednesday, multiple signs in large capital letters warn visitors that if they have cough fever or rash they should put on a mask and wash their hands:At the hospital’s front entrance on Wednesday, multiple signs in large capital letters warn visitors that if they have cough fever or rash they should put on a mask and wash their hands:
“Stop. Important notice! Cough or fever? Please do not visit.”“Stop. Important notice! Cough or fever? Please do not visit.”
One signs said that if you or someone close to you is ill and has left the country in the past three weeks, “Please tell staff immediately.”One signs said that if you or someone close to you is ill and has left the country in the past three weeks, “Please tell staff immediately.”
As health officials worked to trace the possible spread of the illness, they also ordered a synagogue that the man and his family attended to halt all services and told those who had attended a recent bat mitzvah to stay at home. The Westchester father, who Mr. Cuomo said had an underlying respiratory illness, is currently hospitalized at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan in serious condition while his family is quarantined at home in New Rochelle, just north of New York City. He is the only one of the six patients to be hospitalized so far.
On Tuesday night, restaurants on a main avenue in New Rochelle were nearly empty, and store shelves were empty of spray disinfectant, rubbing alcohol and bleach.
Health officials ordered all services at the synagogue the family attended, Young Israel of New Rochelle, to halt services, and the congregants who attended a funeral and a bat mitzvah there on Feb. 23 to self-quarantine in their homes.
Disease detectives were also monitoring seven people at the man’s law firm on East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan to see if they developed symptoms.Disease detectives were also monitoring seven people at the man’s law firm on East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan to see if they developed symptoms.
The Westchester father, who Mr. Cuomo said had an underlying respiratory illness, was hospitalized at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan in serious condition while his family was quarantined in their home in New Rochelle. He is the only one of the six patients to be hospitalized so far. The son is a student at Yeshiva University in Manhattan who had not been on campus since Feb. 27, officials said. University officials and city public health authorities were working to identify people who might have been in close contact with him.
The Westchester daughter is a student at the SAR Academy and High School in the Bronx, which had been voluntarily shut down by administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday. So far, two people identified as contacts of the student had been transferred to Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan to be tested for the virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.
The son is a student at Yeshiva University in Manhattan who had not been on campus since Feb. 27, officials said.
University officials and city public health authorities were working to identify people who might have been in close contact with the student. So far, two people identified as contacts of the student had been transferred to Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan to be tested for the virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.
Classes at the university’s campus in Washington Heights were canceled as a “precautionary step,” according to a statement from the university. Dorms and food services remained open.Classes at the university’s campus in Washington Heights were canceled as a “precautionary step,” according to a statement from the university. Dorms and food services remained open.
On Wednesday afternoon, a typically busy walkway that runs through the campus was largely deserted. Students there said anxiety on campus had risen.
“You can’t even cough without people losing their minds,” Jared Weinstein, a freshman, said as he walked through campus.
Yeshiva University also said that a law school student was in self-quarantine after having contact with the law firm where the Westchester man works. They did not provide an update on that student’s condition.Yeshiva University also said that a law school student was in self-quarantine after having contact with the law firm where the Westchester man works. They did not provide an update on that student’s condition.
The Westchester daughter is a student at the SAR Academy and High School in the Bronx, which had been voluntarily shut down by administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The authorities announced the state’s first confirmed case of the new coronavirus on Sunday, saying a 39-year-old health care worker had been infected in Iran, where the illness is raging. She began exhibiting symptoms after returning home but had kept herself largely isolated.The authorities announced the state’s first confirmed case of the new coronavirus on Sunday, saying a 39-year-old health care worker had been infected in Iran, where the illness is raging. She began exhibiting symptoms after returning home but had kept herself largely isolated.
Her husband had also been tested for the virus but the tests came back negative, Mr. Cuomo said on Wednesday.Her husband had also been tested for the virus but the tests came back negative, Mr. Cuomo said on Wednesday.
With the virus spreading, students and faculty at State University of New York and City University of New York campuses who were studying abroad in China, Italy, Japan, Iran, and South Korea — all of which have been epicenters of the illness — would be brought back to the United States, Mr. Cuomo said.With the virus spreading, students and faculty at State University of New York and City University of New York campuses who were studying abroad in China, Italy, Japan, Iran, and South Korea — all of which have been epicenters of the illness — would be brought back to the United States, Mr. Cuomo said.
Around 300 students and faculty would travel back to the U.S. on a chartered plane and quarantined upon arrival for two weeks, Mr. Cuomo said. The state was identifying dormitories where they would be isolated.Around 300 students and faculty would travel back to the U.S. on a chartered plane and quarantined upon arrival for two weeks, Mr. Cuomo said. The state was identifying dormitories where they would be isolated.
The state health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, said at the news conference that New York was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when deciding who to test for the virus — testing individuals who had recently traveled to affected countries or had contact with a person who tested positive, for example.The state health commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker, said at the news conference that New York was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when deciding who to test for the virus — testing individuals who had recently traveled to affected countries or had contact with a person who tested positive, for example.
“This brings up a concern about the ‘worried well,’” Dr. Zucker said. “There are a lot of people out there who have a simple cough and they think they have coronavirus. It is very important to alleviate some of those worries and fears when you just have a cold, a simple cold.”“This brings up a concern about the ‘worried well,’” Dr. Zucker said. “There are a lot of people out there who have a simple cough and they think they have coronavirus. It is very important to alleviate some of those worries and fears when you just have a cold, a simple cold.”
He added, “Individuals who are sick or symptomatic should talk with their health care professional and find out because they might have an underlying reason for having that cough or that symptom.”He added, “Individuals who are sick or symptomatic should talk with their health care professional and find out because they might have an underlying reason for having that cough or that symptom.”
Luis Ferré-Sadurní reported from Albany and Rebecca Liebson contributed reporting from Bronxville, N.Y. Luis Ferré-Sadurní reported from Albany, Aaron Randle contributed reporting and Rebecca Liebson contributed reporting from Bronxville, N.Y.