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After Family Gets Coronavirus, New York Suburb Is Gripped by Anxiety After Family Gets Coronavirus, New York Suburb Is Gripped by Anxiety
(1 day later)
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The restaurants on North Avenue were nearly empty. The stores were out of spray disinfectant, rubbing alcohol and bleach. At a convenience store, the shopkeeper finished a transaction with a squirt of hand sanitizer, first for himself and then his customer.NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The restaurants on North Avenue were nearly empty. The stores were out of spray disinfectant, rubbing alcohol and bleach. At a convenience store, the shopkeeper finished a transaction with a squirt of hand sanitizer, first for himself and then his customer.
This was life in the latest ground zero for coronavirus in America, a small Westchester County city about five miles north of New York City, as it grappled with the revelation on Tuesday that one of its residents — a lawyer who works in Manhattan — had contracted the virus and may have exposed hundreds of others to it.This was life in the latest ground zero for coronavirus in America, a small Westchester County city about five miles north of New York City, as it grappled with the revelation on Tuesday that one of its residents — a lawyer who works in Manhattan — had contracted the virus and may have exposed hundreds of others to it.
By Wednesday, it was clear that the illness had spread: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced at a morning news conference that the man’s wife, 20-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter all tested positive for the virus, as did a neighbor who drove him to the hospital last week. By day’s end, five more positive cases were disclosed: a man who was in “close proximity” with the Manhattan lawyer, as well as his wife and their three children.By Wednesday, it was clear that the illness had spread: Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced at a morning news conference that the man’s wife, 20-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter all tested positive for the virus, as did a neighbor who drove him to the hospital last week. By day’s end, five more positive cases were disclosed: a man who was in “close proximity” with the Manhattan lawyer, as well as his wife and their three children.
Even before the latest news, worry had already seeped across New Rochelle. At Mikey Dubb’s Frozen Custard shop, the custard machines whirred idle, and at Eden Wok, a kosher Chinese restaurant, workers stood in a doorway, anxiously peering around for customers.Even before the latest news, worry had already seeped across New Rochelle. At Mikey Dubb’s Frozen Custard shop, the custard machines whirred idle, and at Eden Wok, a kosher Chinese restaurant, workers stood in a doorway, anxiously peering around for customers.
“I recognize that the gentleman who is now in the hospital with coronavirus in New York was walking up and down this street,” said Vicky Sturner, 62, a landscape designer and one of the few customers dining at Maestro’s Italian restaurant on North Avenue on Tuesday evening.“I recognize that the gentleman who is now in the hospital with coronavirus in New York was walking up and down this street,” said Vicky Sturner, 62, a landscape designer and one of the few customers dining at Maestro’s Italian restaurant on North Avenue on Tuesday evening.
“I’m going to wash my hands, I’m going to try never to ever touch my face, and I feel terribly sorry for the family that has coronavirus — it affects everybody, the entire community,” Ms. Sturner added. “But I can’t stop it and I can’t change it, and I’m going to live my life.”“I’m going to wash my hands, I’m going to try never to ever touch my face, and I feel terribly sorry for the family that has coronavirus — it affects everybody, the entire community,” Ms. Sturner added. “But I can’t stop it and I can’t change it, and I’m going to live my life.”
Shortly before dusk on Tuesday, Nathan Lindenbaum, an accountant, had walked up to the temple doors of Young Israel of New Rochelle for evening prayers. He was perplexed to find them locked, and the synagogue empty. The man with coronavirus had attended services there.Shortly before dusk on Tuesday, Nathan Lindenbaum, an accountant, had walked up to the temple doors of Young Israel of New Rochelle for evening prayers. He was perplexed to find them locked, and the synagogue empty. The man with coronavirus had attended services there.
Hours before, the Westchester County health commissioner had ordered all services at the synagogue to halt, and the congregants who attended a funeral and a bat mitzvah there on Feb. 23 to self-quarantine in their homes. Over 100 families are under the order, according to the New Rochelle mayor, Noam Bramson.Hours before, the Westchester County health commissioner had ordered all services at the synagogue to halt, and the congregants who attended a funeral and a bat mitzvah there on Feb. 23 to self-quarantine in their homes. Over 100 families are under the order, according to the New Rochelle mayor, Noam Bramson.
“It is deeply concerning and distressing to see one’s own community, one’s own neighbors, dealing with a challenge of this scale and this intensity,” Mayor Bramson said after leaving City Hall at 8 p.m. Tuesday, where he said he spent the day huddling with faith leaders, officials and city staff to make sure that information like the town’s messaging was accurate.“It is deeply concerning and distressing to see one’s own community, one’s own neighbors, dealing with a challenge of this scale and this intensity,” Mayor Bramson said after leaving City Hall at 8 p.m. Tuesday, where he said he spent the day huddling with faith leaders, officials and city staff to make sure that information like the town’s messaging was accurate.
The mayor also hashed out thornier contingencies — including whether the New Rochelle Police Department would have to intercede if the self-quarantine had to be enforced. “The hope and expectation is that those subject to the quarantine will abide by its terms voluntarily,” Mr. Bramson said.
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The mayor also hashed out thornier contingencies — including whether the New Rochelle Police Department would have to intercede if the self-quarantine had to be enforced. “The hope and expectation is that those subject to the quarantine will abide by its terms voluntarily,” Mr. Bramson said.
The lawyer with the virus, in his 50s, is in serious condition at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, according to Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, the deputy commissioner for disease control at New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.The lawyer with the virus, in his 50s, is in serious condition at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, according to Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, the deputy commissioner for disease control at New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
His family members are being quarantined in their home in New Rochelle. The daughter is a student at the SAR Academy and High School in the Bronx, which was shut down by administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday.His family members are being quarantined in their home in New Rochelle. The daughter is a student at the SAR Academy and High School in the Bronx, which was shut down by administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The son is a student at Yeshiva University in Manhattan. Classes at the university’s campus in Washington Heights were canceled on Wednesday, though dorms and food services remained open.The son is a student at Yeshiva University in Manhattan. Classes at the university’s campus in Washington Heights were canceled on Wednesday, though dorms and food services remained open.
The other six positive cases — the family of five, and the neighbor of the lawyer from Manhattan — are also being quarantined in their homes in New Rochelle.The other six positive cases — the family of five, and the neighbor of the lawyer from Manhattan — are also being quarantined in their homes in New Rochelle.
The same day as the man’s diagnosis on Tuesday, Josh Berkowitz, the owner of Eden Wok in New Rochelle, hired a public relations specialist and started offering 15-percent-off coupons to stem an anticipated drop in diners.The same day as the man’s diagnosis on Tuesday, Josh Berkowitz, the owner of Eden Wok in New Rochelle, hired a public relations specialist and started offering 15-percent-off coupons to stem an anticipated drop in diners.
Tending to his single table of customers during what is usually the dinner rush, Mr. Berkowitz answered the phone. A fellow caterer was calling to express shock at an order he had just received.Tending to his single table of customers during what is usually the dinner rush, Mr. Berkowitz answered the phone. A fellow caterer was calling to express shock at an order he had just received.
“The customer wanted sushi, but told him …” Mr. Berkowitz said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “He didn’t want any Asians to touch it.”“The customer wanted sushi, but told him …” Mr. Berkowitz said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “He didn’t want any Asians to touch it.”
Mr. Berkowitz shook his head. “People have just gone nuts,” he said.Mr. Berkowitz shook his head. “People have just gone nuts,” he said.
Ken Barrett, who works for an online food delivery service, arrived at the restaurant to fulfill an order, unaware of the situation in New Rochelle. He said he had been on high alert ever since hearing that the virus was diagnosed in Washington State, in late February, where at least nine people have died.Ken Barrett, who works for an online food delivery service, arrived at the restaurant to fulfill an order, unaware of the situation in New Rochelle. He said he had been on high alert ever since hearing that the virus was diagnosed in Washington State, in late February, where at least nine people have died.
“I might have to just back off from this neighborhood,” Mr. Barrett said when he learned of the quarantine for congregants who might be stuck at home, ordering delivery. “You don’t know who is ordering food.”“I might have to just back off from this neighborhood,” Mr. Barrett said when he learned of the quarantine for congregants who might be stuck at home, ordering delivery. “You don’t know who is ordering food.”
At his convenience store on North Avenue, Raj Shaikhar also learned on Tuesday evening that the synagogue down the street was shut. “I feel scared,” he said. “And so sorry for that man. He must have been my customer.”At his convenience store on North Avenue, Raj Shaikhar also learned on Tuesday evening that the synagogue down the street was shut. “I feel scared,” he said. “And so sorry for that man. He must have been my customer.”
His daughter, a nurse in a city hospital, had purchased a face mask for him that day; he said it cost $70. “Worth it,” Mr. Shaikhar said, whipping out a bottle of green hand sanitizer from behind his cash register and offering a pump to a customer across the counter. They both rubbed their hands as they said goodbye.His daughter, a nurse in a city hospital, had purchased a face mask for him that day; he said it cost $70. “Worth it,” Mr. Shaikhar said, whipping out a bottle of green hand sanitizer from behind his cash register and offering a pump to a customer across the counter. They both rubbed their hands as they said goodbye.
For the few residents who were out on Tuesday night, defiance mixed with fear. Some spoke of resilience and the importance of not panicking, even as they studiously declined to shake hands or headed off to hunt the shelves of the local drugstore for anti-bacterial soap.For the few residents who were out on Tuesday night, defiance mixed with fear. Some spoke of resilience and the importance of not panicking, even as they studiously declined to shake hands or headed off to hunt the shelves of the local drugstore for anti-bacterial soap.
They said they were glued to social media updates on the latest information, and were instructing their children not to hug their friends. Many expressed bewilderment about what would become of their city, and wondered whether it was inevitable that they, too, would fall ill.They said they were glued to social media updates on the latest information, and were instructing their children not to hug their friends. Many expressed bewilderment about what would become of their city, and wondered whether it was inevitable that they, too, would fall ill.
Inside a CVS, Kerry Johnson, an employee, transported a box with the last three bottles of Purell hand sanitizer in the store; a customer had asked her to put them aside, she said. But there were other things to consider: She was battling with whether to come to work the next day.Inside a CVS, Kerry Johnson, an employee, transported a box with the last three bottles of Purell hand sanitizer in the store; a customer had asked her to put them aside, she said. But there were other things to consider: She was battling with whether to come to work the next day.