Leaving NYC? 2-Week Self-Isolation Recommended: Experts

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Health experts sounded the alarm Tuesday, saying people who are leaving New York City could be infecting those around them with the new coronavirus, including areas such as the Hudson Valley and Long Island which are within commuting range. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters at a news conference Tuesday that anyone who left the Big Apple over the last few days may have been exposed to the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.

Furthermore, she said they should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Birx said they are starting to see new cases across Long Island.

"That suggests people have left the city," she said. "This will be very critical that those individuals self-quarantine in their homes over the next 14 days to make sure they don’t pass the virus to others based on the time that they left New York. So if they’re already four days out, then it’s just 10 more days."

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, later said New York was among a few "hot spots" in the country, along with California and Washington state. While other places still have a window open allowing them to significantly contain the spread, New York has moved on to mitigation strategies.

"It’s a very serious situation," Fauci said of the dire situation facing New Yorkers. "They’ve suffered terribly through no fault of their own."

Fauci said people are "understandably" trying to leave the city and head to places like Florida and Long Island.

"It's disturbing," he said. "About one per 1,000 of these individuals are infected. That’s about eight to 10 times more than in other areas. Which means when they go to another place, for their own safety, they’ve got to be careful. Monitor themselves. If they get sick, bring it to the attention of a physician. Get tested."

Fauci said New Yorkers must take seriously the recommendations to self-isolate for two weeks. If not, it could cause more so-called "seeding points" for the rest of the country.

The briefing comes as the governor of Florida said he would expand his 14-day, self-quarantine order aimed at people fleeing New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, which have all implemented coronavirus lockdowns. The order now includes travelers who arrived in the Sunshine State up to three weeks ago.

The White House conference comes hours after Gov. Andrew Cuomo painted a dire picture of the situation his state faces. The peak number of cases of the virus is expected to be far higher than initially thought, he said. Furthermore, the wave that could crash on the health care system and overwhelm hospitals, could be just two weeks away, far earlier than initially predicted.

The number of cases Tuesday climbed to more than 25,000 across the state. More than 3,200 are hospitalized and about 750 were receiving intensive care treatment, he said.

In Westchester, the number of cases announced Tuesday were 3,891 — up 997 from Monday. Similarly, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties saw jumps in the number of confirmed case.

"The change in circumstances is not encouraging," he said, speaking from the Javits Convention Center.

Cuomo said as many as 140,000 hospital beds will be needed, noting the rate of spread is doubling every three days. The state currently has closer to 50,000 hospital beds.

Written by Dan Hampton/Patch with additional reporting by Michael Woyton/Patch.

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