Coronavirus: New York Port Authority chief Rick Cotton tests positive as number of cases in state hits 142
- Governor Andrew Cuomo unveils New York’s own brand of hand sanitiser, made by prisoners, to meet shortages from outbreak
- State of emergency has been declared in New York, with schools closed and thousands of students staying home
The executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Rick Cotton, has tested positive for the coronavirus, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing on Monday.
Cotton, who tested positive after visiting airports and other Port Authority facilities, is on home quarantine, the governor added, while announcing that the number of confirmed cases in his state had jumped to 142.
At the briefing, Cuomo also revealed that New York – under a state of emergency because of the outbreak – was launching its own brand of hand sanitiser, made by jail inmates.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said 100,000 gallons (379,000 litres) of “NYS Clean” would be produced a week by prisoners, who already manufacture soap, to meet shortages.
“This is a superior product,” the governor said, as the gel was unveiled from behind a curtain at a press conference.
“It has a very nice floral bouquet,” he added, after rubbing some on his hands.
The product, which has an alcohol content of 75 per cent, will be provided for free to government agencies, schools, the public transport system and prisons, Cuomo said.
Michael Bloomberg used prison labour to staff presidential campaign
It is part of the government’s “Corcraft” scheme where prisoners make dozens of products including cleaning supplies, bedding and clothes.
The sanitiser will cost US$6 a gallon to make and is not expected to go on general sale.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday reported a total of 472 cases (including 49 repatriated patients) and 19 deaths nationwide, though the figures may not include the most recent cases reported by individual states.
No one in New York state has died from the virus, but eight people have been hospitalised.
Thousands of students are staying home this week after some public schools in the suburb of Westchester county, which has most of the state’s cases, closed and New York’s Columbia University, Hofstra University and Yeshiva University suspended classes.
Elsewhere, the Southern District of New York said on Monday that it would not allow anyone who had visited China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran in the last 14 days to enter any of its courthouses.
Bloomberg and Agence France-Presse
