Astoria Councilman Self-Quarantined With Presumptive Coronavirus

ASTORIA, QUEENS — City Council Member Costa Constantinides is self-quarantining after experiencing a fever and other mild COVID-19 symptoms, he announced Wednesday on social media.

Constantinides said he decided not to get tested for the new coronavirus after consulting with medical professionals about his case. He has been self-quarantining since Sunday night.

"I’m slowly getting better, but trust me this is not something you want,"Constantinides wrote on Twitter. "Even for the healthy among us, it can wear you down."

"Sleep is incredibly difficult on top of it," Constantinides said. "You’re equally fearful and frustrated. I’ve tried to continue my job and work with my staff to make sure those who need care get it."

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City officials are prioritizing tests for New Yorkers who are hospitalized or are more vulnerable, such as health care workers or anyone with underlying medical conditions.

The NYC Department of Health also advises anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to stay home instead of going to get tested, which may expose others to the virus.

Wanted to update everyone that since Sunday night I’ve self quarantined. I started running a fever & immediately isolated myself from my family. Since then I’ve experienced minor symptoms. I didn’t go for a test based on consultations w/ medical professionals. (1/7)
— Costa Constantinides (@Costa4NY) April 1, 2020

Constantinides is at least the fifth member of the City Council to either test positive for COVID-19 or experience symptoms of the virus.

Queens Council Member Paul Vallone on Wednesday announced that he tested positive for the virus; Bronx Council Member Ritchie Torres and Brooklyn Council Member Inez Barron have also tested positive for the virus.

Manhattan Council Member Mark Levine, who chairs the council's health committee, says he suspects he has the virus but will not get tested to preserve tests for others.

New York City has nearly 45,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 — a third of which are in Queens — and more than 1,100 people have died from the virus as of Wednesday morning, according to city data.

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