Coronavirus Should Prompt State Of Emergency, NY Senator Says

NEW YORK CITY — New York Senator Charles Schumer demanded the government declare a public health emergency as the fifth confirmed case of the deadly coronavirus was found in the U.S.

As of Monday, cases were being treated in Illinois, Washington, Arizona and two in California, the Associated Press reported. In New York, seven patients have been tested for the illness, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday.

Of them three were found not to be affected, with results on the other four pending. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday it was only a matter of time before it hits NYC.

All affected patients in the U.S. traveled recently from Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of the highly infectious virus has so far killed 80 people and infected nearly 3,000.

“If we have learned anything from the risks that new viruses pose to public health, it is that a ‘stitch in time saves nine,’" Schumer said Sunday.

"The more we can do to be proactive, the better off the public will be.”

In New York City, travelers arriving from central China are being screened by the Centers for Disease Control at JFK Airport.

City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said New York was in a state of low risk and high preparedness, with area hospitals on alert. Symptoms are similar to those of the flu.

Declaring a public emergency would make millions of dollars of federal money available to fight the outbreak.

"The CDC has been doing a tremendous job so far at being proactive and working around the clock to protect public health," said Schumer.

"But if we are going to make sure they can sustain this pace and remain at-the-ready should the outbreak get worse, they will need immediate access to critical federal funds that at the present time they remain unable to access.