Central Park Conservancy Head Contracts Coronavirus

CENTRAL PARK, NY — The leader of the nonprofit organization responsible for programs and upkeep in Central Park tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports.

Elizabeth Smith, who was named president of the Central Park Conservancy in March 2018, was tested for the fast-spreading virus after experiencing symptoms this past weekend, a spokesperson for the nonprofit told Patch. Smith's husband, Port Authority Director Rick Cotton, was one of seven new confirmed coronavirus cases announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday.

"Central Park Conservancy’s President, Elizabeth W. Smith, is working remotely after testing positive for COVID-19. She was tested after experiencing mild symptoms over the weekend," a Central Park Conservancy spokesperson said in a statement.

Smith is the only Central Park Conservancy employee to test positive for the potentially deadly disease, the spokesperson added. About a dozen of Smith's staffers have been told to quarantine in their homes for two weeks as a precaution.

The number of cases of the new coronavirus in New York City increased to 25 people now confirmed sick, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday morning. The amount of people sickened has gone up significantly since the first person tested positive on March 2. On Monday night, 20 people were confirmed sick.

Statewide, the number of cases went up by 25 overnight, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on CNN. That number is now 165.

Read more: Coronavirus In NYC: Where It's Spread And What's Being Done