US Coronavirus Cases Cross 150; Manhattan Lawyer Infects His Own Family With The Disease

New Yorkers are gripped by fear as the number of coronavirus cases tested positive jumped to 11, surpassing 150 confirmed cases on Wednesday. A 50-year-old infected Manhattan attorney has been linked to at least nine of the recently reported cases. The attorney’s wife, 20-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter and neighbor have all tested positive. And so, has his friend, friend’s wife and their three children.

Currently being administered in intensive care at the New-York-Presbyterian/ Columbia Medical Center; the attorney faces more danger owing to his health condition—he’s suffering from severe pneumonia as well. The recent cases have stirred concern, and over 1000 people in Westchester County and New York, who came in direct contact with the attorney, were asked to self-quarantine. Seven law firm employees who worked closely with the attorney were advised to get themselves tested.

The lawyer used to hop on the Metro-North Railroad from his home in New Rochelle to get to work. His wife and one of their children also worked at a small law firm across from Grand Central Terminal.

The regular functioning of school and university attended by two of the attorney’s infected children came to an abrupt halt, as soon as the news broke out. Yeshiva University, the private Jewish university where the lawyer's 20-year-old son studies canceled lectures at its Washington Heights campus on Wednesday.

Similarly, The SAR High School in the Bronx where the lawyer's diagnosed 14-year-old daughter studies had shut down on Tuesday after his positive test was announced. The Westchester Torah Academy where the children of the other family who tested positive remain closed until Friday.

The state has recorded 11 deaths post the outbreak – Ten in Washington, while California recorded its first coronavirus induced death on Wednesday. The death of the Californian patient has also been linked to a host of underlying health conditions. He reportedly contracted the virus while on a cruise ship from San Francisco to Mexico in early February.

In a desperate bid to contain the virus, the Los Angeles County officials declared a health emergency just as soon as six new cases were confirmed on Wednesday. The city currently has seven confirmed Coronavirus cases.