Coronavirus: 22 Cases In New York

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — The number of confirmed new coronavirus cases in New York increased to 22, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at a press conference Thursday. The total increased by 11 overnight, he said, due to a significant number of tests that were done.

The governor said eight of the new cases are connected to the 50-year-old New Rochelle man, who was the second person in the state to test positive for COVID-19, as the virus is officially known. The total number of cases in Westchester County increased to 18.

Two of the new cases are in New York City and one is on Long Island. Those three people are hospitalized, Cuomo said. The other eight people who are newly confirmed are reported to be in the Westchester area and are not being hospitalized.

Wednesday afternoon, the number of confirmed cases in Westchester increased to 10, with the addition of a friend of a 50-year-old New Rochelle man who was diagnosed Tuesday with the virus. Officials said the friend is also a man who lives in New Rochelle. He and his wife, two sons and a daughter also tested positive for the new coronavirus. There is another daughter in the family but she tested negative for the virus. The family is isolated in their home, officials said.

Earlier Wednesday, the 50-year-old man's wife, son and daughter were also confirmed to have the virus, as well as the man's neighbor who initially drove him to the hospital.

Dr. Howard Zucker said the 50-year-old man is continuing to improve.

Thursday morning health officials in New York City said a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s tested positive and were sent to hospitals for intensive care. Additionally, a 34-year-old New York City health care worker earlier tested positive for the virus and continues to recover at home.

Earlier media reports of 21 total cases of the new coronavirus in Westchester County alone were incorrect, Cuomo said.

Earlier Wednesday, it was announced that students at SUNY and CUNY schools who are studying abroad in China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea — where coronavirus outbreaks are most widespread — will be brought back to New York. State officials said the students will be quarantined for 14 days.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said current symptoms reported for people with COVID-19 include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. The virus is spreading from person to person, and someone sickened with the virus can spread the illness to others, medical officials said.

There is no vaccine to prevent the new coronavirus. Health officials said the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus, though the CDC recommends preventive actions to help avoid spreading respiratory diseases, such as:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Stay home if sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue away
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes

SEE ALSO:

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• Coronavirus: 22 Cases In New York
• Westchester Announces Phone Numbers For Coronavirus Information
• Coronavirus: New Rochelle Schools To Stay Open
• Westchester School District To Close Due To Coronavirus
• Mount Vernon 2nd To Close Schools Over Coronavirus