New York state confirmed 13 new cases of coronavirus Saturday evening, taking the total number of residents infected to 89.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the latest spike in figures in what has been a shock day for New Yorkers, as the number of cases of the deadly disease more than doubled in the last 24 hours and a state of emergency was declared.
Cases are expected to rise higher still amid fears that 40 doctors, nurses and medical staff in a Queens hospital may have been infected by an Uber driver, after he walked into the hospital and later tested positive for the virus.
Seventy of New York state's 89 cases are based in Westchester, where a Manhattan attorney was first struck down with the virus earlier this week.
Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon, when he revealed the number of cases had reached 76.
Figures have since been updated to include 13 additional cases.
'We have now been testing around the clock,' Cuomo stated at the afternoon press conference.
Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday as coronavirus cases skyrocket across New York
Locals and tourists were taking no precautions as they made their way through bustling Times Square. Governor Cuomo has now declared a state of emergency
Forty-five new cases have been uncovered since Friday, with the majority related nyc taxi to airport the New Rochelle lawyer who was diagnosed as New York state's first case earlier this week.
There are seven new cases in New York City - taking the total to 11.
Disturbingly, there are also signs of wider spread, with two cases now confirmed in Saratoga County in the northeast of the state - hundreds of miles away from any other cases.
There are still thousands of New York state residents awaiting the return of coronavirus test results.
By declaring a state of emergency, Cuomo said that he is able to free up $30 million that can be used for testing and the purchase of protective gear for healthcare workers.
'I'm not urging calm," Cuomo stated. "I'm urging reality. I'm urging a factual response as opposed to an emotional response... that people understand the information and not the hype.'
He added that, at present, there is no need to cancel large gatherings in any part of the state.
Meanwhile, a Queens man who drives for nyc taxi to airport and ride-hailing services including Uber has now tested positive for coronavirus after showing up to St. John's Episcopal Hospital in the borough with flu-like symptoms on Tuesday.
The driver, 33, went home and returned later when his symptoms worsened, officials said.
Tests came back Friday night confirming he had coronavirus.
The situation has prompted 40 doctors, nurses and hospital staff to go into self-quarantine amid fears they have now been exposed. The man is now in isolation at the hospital.
Investigators are now trying to piece together who he might have driven around in a bid to contain a possible spread.
The man was licensed to drive passengers around New York City, but not in the state's five boroughs or from city airports, a spokesman for Uber told The Times.
'The hospital will need to replace those people temporarily. They will need money nyc taxi to airport do that. They need supplies. We need to keep the health care up and running,' Councilman Donovan Richards Jr, told The New York Times.
Meanwhile, more than 4,000 people in the state have been urged to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease.
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