Midtown Law Firm Workers To Be Tested For COVID-19: Mayor

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Seven workers and one intern at a small Midtown Manhattan law firm will be tested for the COVID-19 virus due to contact with a lawyer who tested positive for the disease, becoming New York State's second confirmed case, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.

The 50-year-old attorney was diagnosed with COVID-19 at Columbia Presbyterian hospital Monday, de Blasio and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced. The man, who was not identified, commuted into work from New Rochelle and had not recently visited one of the countries on the virus watch list.

"Obviously we're very concerned," de Blasio said in the Blue Room during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. "This appears to be an example of community spread."

The lawyer, whose firm Lewis and Garbuz has its offices in One Grand Central Place on East 41st Street between Madison and Park avenues, was transferred to Columbia Presbyterian from Lawrence Hospital in Westchester, city health officials said. The man sought care at the Westchester hospital on Feb. 27.

"Now, more than ever, New Yorkers must come together as a city to limit the spread of COVID-19. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or shortness of breath, call your health care provider," Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said.

The lawyer is currently hospitalized at Columbia Presbyterian in serious condition, city and state officials said. The private S.A.R. High School and Academy in the Bronx where the man's daughter goes to school was closed on Tuesday and Yeshiva University, where the man's son attends, is disinfecting all common areas and following recommendations from the city's Health Department and the CDC, an email sent by school administrators reads.

Both children tested positive for coronavirus, de Blasio and Cuomo said Wednesday. The lawyer's wife, who also works at the Midtown firm, also tested positive but is not showing symptoms, New York City's mayor said.

City and state officials did not identify the man, his wife or his children.

Kathleen Culliton contributed to this report.

Read Patch's full coverage on New York City's COVID-19 cases here.