Coronavirus No Match For NYC, Health Commissioner Says

NEW YORK CITY — None of the nine New York cases tested for coronavirus originated in New York City, but Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot hopes the deadly virus will appear in the city "sooner rather than later."

"Having that person diagnosed can help New Yorkers breath a sigh of relief," said Barbot said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. "The unknown is what drives people's fears."

Oxiris gather reporters at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in Chinatown to assuage the public's fears over a rapidly spreading virus days after Mayor Bill de Blasio told the city to prepare itself for the infection's inevitable arrival in New York City.

As of Tuesday, about 4,600 have been confirmed infected with the virus that has claimed 106 lives, health officials said.

"I'm interested in insuring all of our measures are in place," Barbot explained. "We have a fairly tight network that goes in different levels to make sure that we are vigilant."

Barbot took the opportunity to dispel what she called "misinformation" circulating on social media: that Chinatown should be avoided and that there was scientific evidence proving the virus could be contracted from a person not exhibiting symptoms.

"There is no reason to avoid subways or restaurants or to change your daily routine," Barbot said.

Coronavirus has already made its way into the United States with two confirmed cases in California, one in Arizona, one in Washington State and one in Illinois, according to the Health Commissioner.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday nine cases had been sent from New York to the Centers for Disease Control with four testing negative for coronavirus and five cases pending.

None of those cases originated in New York City, despite it being home to the largest Chinese population in the world outside of China, Barbot confirmed.

Coronavirus appears to have a 14 day incubation period with symptoms surfacing on the fifth or sixth day, Barbot said.

Only New Yorkers with flu-like symptoms who have traveled within the past two weeks to the Wuhan area of China, where coronavirus first began its spread earlier this month, should contact their doctors, Barbot said.

Those who have traveled to Wuhan but do not show symptoms should certainly wash their hands frequently, but do not need to isolate themselves entirely, according to Barbot.

The health commissioner noted that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration or insurance status, should feel welcome in New York City's public hospitals and community health centers.

Barbot said, "We will treat them as anyone else."