On Sunday, March 1, a 39-year-old health care worker from Iran living in Manhattan was confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus and marked the NY state’s first case. 

On Wednesday, March 4, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced five new positive cases, bringing a total of 11 cases in NY. According to the officials, 1,000 people are in self-quarantine in Westchester County, NY. 

The Westchester County cases are suspected to be caused by “community spread” because ten of those 11 cases stem from the same attorney from Westchester who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to ABC7NY. 

According to Cuomo, the number of people infected will continue to increase. “It is going to be dozens and dozens and dozens,” Cuomo suggested.

Following the events, he signed a bill to direct $40 million to help the state hire more staffers and buy equipment to help respond to coronavirus. 

However, critics seemed to consider his effort as an attempt of power grab as he has “the authority to declare a statewide disaster emergency for an urgent disease outbreak and temporarily suspend state and local laws and regulations to cope with it.” 

Cuomo also said that there are 300 CUNY and SUNY students plus faculty who will return from study abroad programs in five countries – China, Italy, Japan, Iran, South Korea. They will be flown into Stewart Air Force base and be subjected to quarantine in their dormitories for 14 days when they return.

Similarly, St. Lawrence University also canceled the Italy program to ensure students’ safety. However, in a letter to campus community written by Vice-President and Dean of Student Life Hagi Bradley and Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs Karl Schonberg, they have stated that students will be quarantined in their homes and that there will be no housing or registration available for students returning from abroad unexpectedly. 

They specified that the students returning are not allowed to return to campus and participate in University-sponsored events such as the upcoming Titus Weekend. “The decision is in the best interest of the health of our returning students as well as our campus community, whose safety and welfare is our responsibility,” Bradley and Schonberg said.

Bradley and Schonberg also suggested that no SLU students have been confirmed to have contracted the novel Coronavirus. Regarding Upstate New York, no one has been diagnosed with it in the St. Lawrence County, NY. 

However, to make sure the safety of faculty, staff, and students to a maximum, the University has formed an Emergency Planning Team that works to update internal guidelines from WHO, refine plans, and advise the President. 

As of Wednesday, March 4, more than 100 U.S. citizens have contracted the virus and 11 have died, including the first in Calif., according to ABCNews. 

Preventive Measures include washing your hands often, avoiding touching your eyes, noses, and mouth with unwashed hands, staying home when you are sick, and covering your cough with tissue, among many other useful measures. More information can be found on the University website stlawu.edu.