New York State has the highest number of positive coronavirus cases in the nation -142-, including a senior transportation official, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.
The governor also reported that due to the shortage of hand sanitizer, the state manufactured its own sanitizer. 100,000 gallons per week, he said.
Of the 142 patients with the coronavirus, 8 of them are hospitalized. Of these 142 cases, 21 are from New York City, including a Westchesster County attorney but hospitalized in Manhattan and a fire department nurse.
The increase to 142 cases means an increase of about 200% from Friday when the figure was 49 cases.
The official infected with the coronavirus is Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bi-state agency that is in charge of airports, bridges, tunnels, bus terminals and ports in the New York area.
“He’s been in airports, obviously, when a lot of people were coming back with the virus,” Cuomo said at a news conference. Cuomo suggested that Cotton may have been infected as part of his job on behalf of the Kennedy International Airport authority, noting that “it was one of the main airports for people arriving on those flights from abroad.”
Over the weekend the governor declared a State of Emergency for New York due to the magnitude of the coronavirus crisis.
On Monday, the governor announced new measures for schools: If a student tests positive for the virus, the school will close for at least 24 hours, although it may be required to close it for a longer period.
The highest concentration of cases in New York occurs in Westchester County where the lawyer who works and is hospitalized in Manhattan lives and who would have infected members of his family and acquaintances.
According to the authorities, there will be more positive cases as more people are being tested. But that in any case, the risk to the general population remains low. You are asked to remain calm.
The governor posted a message on twitter about the announcement of the manufacture of the hand sanitizer.
The sanitizer will be for government agencies, schools, the MTA, prisons, and others.
