New York Coronavirus: Suffern Death Probed

NEW CITY, NY — A death in the village of Suffern is under investigation, Rockland County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Laura Carbone announced Thursday. She acknowledged rumors that the death was due to coronavirus but emphasized no testing has been done.

"There has been no official determination made relating to cause of death," Carbone said in the announcement. "We know that there are rumors linking this death to Coronavirus (COVID-19) but no testing has yet been performed. Please be assured that we will be testing for influenza and other common respiratory illnesses as well as COVID-19. When an official determination has been made, we will issue an update, but will have no further public communications until that time."

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Rockland County had six confirmed cases of the virus as of Wednesday afternoon. Two of them are Rockland County residents who worked at a bar mitzvah in Westchester, became infected with coronavirus, then worked locally while contagious. Three of the cases are children.

Three East Ramapo schools were closed until March 21 after three students tested positive for the virus. And anyone who spent time in the three schools — Hempstead Elementary School, Pomona Middle School and Ramapo High School — on or after March 6 was ordered to self-quarantine at the recommendation of the Commissioner of Health.

The Health Department is asking all health care providers to immediately report all possible cases of new coronavirus to the Rockland County Department of Health Communicable Disease Program staff by calling 845-364-2997 during normal business hours, or 845-364-8600 after hours/weekends.

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