Woman Has First Confirmed Coronavirus Case in New York State
A woman in her late 30s has been diagnosed with the first confirmed case of coronavirus in New York state.
Governor Andrew Cuomo Sunday night made the announcement. In a statement, he said the woman contracted the virus while traveling in Iran.
The statement said the patient is isolated in her home but it did not indicate the location. Although she has respiratory symptoms, Cuomo indicated she "is not in serious condition."
The New York Post, citing an unnamed source, reported the woman lives in Manhattan.
New York City officials issued a statement indicating "close contacts" of the patient had been identified and "appropriate measures" will be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The governor's statement said the woman "has been in a controlled situation since arriving in New York." He provided no additional information about the patient.
Cuomo said the positive test was confirmed by a state lab. He said the confirmation of a coronavirus case in the state "is no cause for surprise."
The governor's statement said "there is no cause for undue anxiety." He said the "general risk remains low in New York."
In late January, the Broome County Health Department reported two people who had respiratory illnesses tested negative for the coronavirus. There have been no additional reports of people in the county being monitored for COVID-19 since then.
This story has been updated to include the report of where the patient resides and additional background information.
Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com
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