Coronavirus Update: Officials want more screenings at JFK, other NYC airports

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Coronavirus: Officials want more screenings at NYC airports

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As New York state and New York City continue to prepare for potential cases of coronavirus, officials are looking at the number of international flights arriving at area airports every day and calling for increased screenings.

Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling for screenings to expand beyond flights from China, to other countries that have seen a surge in cases.

There are now 60 cases of coronavirus in the U.S., with the latest confirmed case in Northern California in what is believed to be the first involving a patient who hadn't traveled out of the country or come into contact with someone known to have the virus.

And while there are still no confirmed cases in New York, the governor and mayor say cases in this area are inevitable due to the incredible number of travelers.

Italy has seen a huge spike in cases, and one New York City resident flew into JFK International Airport Wednesday night from that country and said he breeze through Customs.

Maurizio Marchiori, from Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, told Eyewitness News he did not undergo any kind of screening despite arriving from an area where towns are locked down with 300 coronavirus cases.

He said officials told him it is up to him to monitor his own health and go to the hospital if he gets sick.

"I was surprised there wasn't any control, especially because we fly from Milan," he said. "It just stands to reason that anyone coming in needs to be screened, and if they have symptoms, they need to be quarantined. It's very straightforward at this point."

De Blasio says New York City has 1,200 hospital beds that can be available immediately if needed and that 1.5 million masks have been distributed to first responders and health care workers. Still, he says 300,000 more are needed.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state has set aside $40 million to combat COVID-19, but the mayor says more federal funding is needed.

New York City officials also say they want to be able to confirm COVID-19 cases locally.

As of right now, the mayor says, the validation step in the test can only be done at the federal level, by the Centers for Disease Control.

RELATED INFORMATION:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus

New Yorkers can call the State hotline at 1-888-364-3065, where experts from the Department of Health can answer questions regarding the novel coronavirus.

New York State information about coronavirus

New York City information about coronavirus

John Hopkins' coronavirus tracking dashboard

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