New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has activated the state's National Guard to help the efforts of stopping cases of COVID-19, commonly referred to as the Wuhan virus or coronavirus, in the city of New Rochelle.
Cuomo announced during a press conference on Tuesday they will be establishing a "containment area" for two weeks as cases of the strain of coronavirus, which originated out of China, continue to rise. Cuomo said the National Guardsmen will be helping delivering food to homes and clean public areas.
“New Rochelle is a particular problem. It is what they call a cluster. The numbers have been going up. The numbers continue to go up. The numbers are going up unabated. And we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle,” Cuomo said.
"It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster in the country, and this is literally a matter of life and death,” Cuomo said, according to CBS New York.
NY Gov. Cuomo explains new containment measures in New Rochelle; announces deployment of National Guard to assist in the area. pic.twitter.com/kJHI7LCRsT
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 10, 2020
Large public gatherings, including schools and church services, have been canceled in the city.
Shelves at CVS in New Rochelle which @NYGovCuomo calls the hot spot for #Coronavirus not unlike other stores in NYS - sanitizer, wipes, antibacterial soap all sold out. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/rIdWbJ5JzS
— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) March 10, 2020
Schools to close in New Rochelle from March 12 - 25: New Rochelle High School, Albert Leonard Middle School and Ward Elementary. @CBSNewYork
— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) March 10, 2020
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide is over 117,000, with at least 800 of them being in the United States. There have been 23 deaths from the diseases in America.