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Coronavirus in N.Y.: 9 New Cases, All Connected to Westchester Man Coronavirus in N.Y.: Family of Westchester Man and Neighbor Confirmed
(32 minutes later)
Nine people connected to the man who was confirmed as New York’s second case of the new coronavirus have all tested positive for the illness, 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.
The new cases included the man’s wife; his son, 20; his daughter, 14; and a neighbor in Westchester County, who drove the man to the hospital. A friend of the man who spent time “in close proximity” with him also tested positive for the virus, as did that man’s wife and three of their children, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said. 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 11, 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.
So far, about 1,000 people were being asked to self-quarantine, Mr. Cuomo estimated. So far, about 1,000 people had been told to self-quarantine, Mr. Cuomo estimated on Wednesday.
Still, the governor urged New Yorkers not to panic — even as he said, as he has before, that officials expected that there would be many people who would test positive.Still, the governor urged New Yorkers not to panic — even as he said, as he has before, that officials expected that there would be many people who would test positive.
“By definition, the more you test, the more people you will find who test positive,” Mr. Cuomo said.“By definition, the more you test, the more people you will find who test positive,” Mr. Cuomo said.
The discovery that the Westchester father, a man of about 50 who works with his wife 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.
Officials said they had little clue as to how the man, who had not been to any areas with widespread transmission of the virus, had become infected. He became ill on Feb. 22 and was admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y., five days later. All four people who were confirmed on Wednesday to have the virus had been in close contact with the Westchester man in closed environments.
Officials had little clue as to how the man, who had not been to any areas with widespread transmission of the virus, had become 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. Eight employees there were being tested for the virus, Mr. Cuomo said on Wednesday.So far, public health workers have told some nurses and doctors at the hospital that they would need to be quarantined. Eight employees there were being tested for the virus, Mr. Cuomo said on Wednesday.
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.”
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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.”
One sign 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 sign 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.”
The Westchester father, who Mr. Cuomo said had an underlying respiratory illness, is hospitalized at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. Though he was taken there in serious condition, he is stable and his health is improving, Mr. Cuomo said. The Westchester father, who Mr. Cuomo said had an underlying respiratory illness, is hospitalized at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. Though he was taken there in serious condition, he is stable and his health is improving, Mr. Cuomo said.
The man is the only one of the six patients to be hospitalized so far. His family is quarantined at home in New Rochelle, just north of New York City.The man is the only one of the six patients to be hospitalized so far. His family is quarantined at home in New Rochelle, just north of New York City.
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.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 halted all services at the synagogue the family attended, Young Israel of New Rochelle, and told the congregants who attended a funeral and a bat mitzvah there on Feb. 23 to self-quarantine in their homes.Health officials halted all services at the synagogue the family attended, Young Israel of New Rochelle, and told the congregants who attended a funeral and a bat mitzvah there on Feb. 23 to self-quarantine in their homes.
Eight people who work at the man and woman’s law firm on East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan were being tested for the virus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Wednesday. Several people who work at the man’s law firm on East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan were also tested for the virus, Mr. Cuomo said, as were the neighbor’s children.
The neighbor’s children were also being tested, Mr. Cuomo said. The son, a student at Yeshiva University in Manhattan who lived in campus housing, had not been at the school 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 son, a student at Yeshiva University in Manhattan who lived in campus housing, had not been at the school since Feb. 27, officials said. He had shown symptoms of the virus but was “getting better,” Mr. de Blasio said. 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.
University officials and city public health authorities were working to identify people who might have been in close contact with him. So far, only two people — the student’s roommate and a close friend — have been tested for the virus, Mr. de Blasio said.
Classes at the university’s campus in Washington Heights will be canceled until Friday, Mr. Cuomo said. Dorms and food services remained open, according to a statement from the university.Classes at the university’s campus in Washington Heights will be canceled until Friday, Mr. Cuomo said. Dorms and food services remained open, according to a statement from the university.
On Wednesday afternoon, a typically busy walkway that runs through the campus was largely deserted. Students there said anxiety on campus had risen.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.“You can’t even cough without people losing their minds,” Jared Weinstein, a freshman, said as he walked through campus.
Yeshiva University 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 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.
New York Law School in TriBeCa also canceled classes and closed its facilities after a student there reported having contact with the Westchester man.New York Law School in TriBeCa also canceled classes and closed its facilities after a student there reported having contact with the Westchester man.
The Westchester man’s daughter, who was asymptomatic, is a student at the SAR High School in the Bronx. The school had been voluntarily shut down by administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday and would remain closed until after the Purim holiday on March 10, Mr. Cuomo said. The Westchester man’s daughter is a student at the SAR Academy and High School in the Bronx. The school had been voluntarily shut down by administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday and would remain closed until after the Purim holiday on March 10, Mr. Cuomo said.
The man’s friend and his family remained isolated at home in New Rochelle, Mr. Cuomo said. The three children, two sons and a daughter, who tested positive for the virus attended the Westchester Torah Academy in White Plains, N.Y. The man’s fourth child, a daughter, did not test positive for the virus.
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. The tests came back negative, but the man was being asked to remain in isolation, Mr. de Blasio 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 asked to come 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 be 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 be quarantined upon arrival for two weeks, Mr. Cuomo said. The state was identifying dormitories where they would be isolated.
Several New York City employees, including five police officers and one public-school teacher, were self-isolating, Mr. de Blasio said. Officials had not yet tested them for the virus but planned to, he said.
Mr. de Blasio said that the teacher had recently traveled to an affected country and was at home. She was “not in contact with students and won’t be in contact with students until it is safe to be so,” he added.
Asked about potential public school closures, Mr. de Blasio said the city had a “basic capacity” to provide remote learning.
The city schools chancellor, Richard A. Carranza, said that school closures would represent a “last resort” because of the many issues that significant closures would create.
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, Aaron Randle, Eliza Shapiro and Jeffery C. Mays contributed reporting 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.