Coronavirus In NY: 13 Cases, 500 To Quarantine, Schools Close

NEW YORK, NY — The number of confirmed new coronavirus cases climbed to 13 on Thursday after New York City officials said a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s tested positive and were sent to hospitals for intensive care treatment.

© Scott Heins/Getty Images Coronavirus cases in New York climbed again Thursday after a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s tested positive.

The latest cases follow a series of positive tests in Westchester County.

A 50-year-old Hudson Valley man was diagnosed with the virus, known as COVID-19, this week and was hospitalized because he had an underlying breathing illness. He is in stable condition in intensive care and was said to be improving, state health officials said. Nine people linked to the man also tested positive. This includes his wife, two sons and daughter, as well as a neighbor who drove him to the hospital, a family friend and members of the friend's family. The school where the friend's children attend has closed.

The first diagnosed case was a 34-year-old New York City health care worker who traveled to Iran. She is recovering at home.

Amid concerns over the spread of the virus, officials said students at SUNY and CUNY schools studying abroad in China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea — where coronavirus outbreaks are most widespread — will return to New York and remain quarantined for two weeks.

About 500 people were expected to go into either mandatory or self-quarantine in Westchester County and New York City, officials said. This includes congregants and attendees at recent events at a Hudson Valley synagogue; several staffers at a Hudson Valley hospital, students and staff at a Riverdale school, multiple people at Yeshiva University in New York City; and co-workers at the hospitalized man's law firm.

More than 95,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed spanning 79 countries, according to the World Health Organization. About 3,300 people have died.

China has far more cases than any other country at about 80,000, followed by roughly 5,700 in the Republic of Korea and 3,000 each in Italy and Iran.

About 130 cases were confirmed in the United States as of Thursday morning and nine people have died.

Coronavirus fears have prompted numerous employers to issue travel advisories to workers, forcing many to rethink plans to visit countries such as Italy, South Korea, China and Japan. Numerous airlines are also waiving change fees for affected travelers.

Virus concerns forced the international coffee giant Starbucks to tell investors this week it would no longer allow customers to use personal cups and "for here" cups that customers could request. Those who bring in their own cups will have to take a disposable cup.

Starbucks will still be giving customers the 10 cent discount if they bring in their own cups, even though they can't use them.

The international coffee giant announced in a letter to investors yesterday that it would no longer be allowing the use of personal cups and the "for here" cups customers could ask for. Those who bring in their own cups will have to take a disposable cup.

Many schools have also issued letters to parents about their preparation plans.