NYC Health Officials: Potential Coronavirus Cases Back Up To 4
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City health officials are now waiting on the results of four pending cases of coronavirus in New York City.
Earlier this week, the testing of one of three cases came back negative from the Centers for Disease Control. Then on Wednesday, the city announced that two additional cases had been identified.
Officials said the latest individuals are both under 40 years of age. One is hospitalized and the other did not have symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. That person will remain under appropriate isolation precautions and will be monitored daily by the Health Department.
"This is exactly what we prepared for and is evidence that the system in place is working as it should," New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said. "We are fortunate that the test results from our first person under investigation came back negative, but we expect to see more people presenting to health care facilities with symptoms of the novel coronavirus."
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Results of all four pending tests should be known in 36-48 hours, officials said.
"New York City is on high alert and prepared to handle any confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. "My message to New Yorkers remains the same: if you have the travel history and are exhibiting symptoms, please see your health provider immediately."
Meanwhile, two planes carrying Americans from high-risk coronavirus areas in China arrived in the United States on Wednesday morning. As many as 250 passengers will be staying at a hotel on Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento. Others will stay at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego.
They'll be quarantined for 14 days.
An American citizen is among 10 passengers who tested positive on board a cruise ship off Japan. The patients were removed, while the remaining 3,700 passengers will be confined to their cabins for two weeks.
The virus has infected nearly 25,000 people globally and killed 494. Twelve people have tested positive in the U.S., including the latest patient confirmed in Wisconsin on Wednesday afternoon.
