City checks 2 more for deadly bug

Two more people in the city are being tested for coronavirus, the Health Department said Wednesday.

The two new possible coronavirus patients are the fourth and the fifth people city health officials have determined to need such testing.

Both patients had recently traveled in mainland China, believed to be the origin of the deadly disease. They showed flu-like symptoms. including fever and cough or shortness of breath, yet did not appear to have the flu or a cold virus, the Health Department said.

The new patients are described as under the age of 40. One has been hospitalized, while the other did not have severe enough symptoms to require that, the city said.

The person who was not hospitalized “will remain under appropriate isolation precautions and daily monitoring by the Health Department,” the city said.

“This is exactly what we prepared for and is evidence that the system in place is working as it should,” said Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot.

“We are fortunate that the test results from our first person under investigation came back negative, but we expect to see more people presenting to health care facilities with symptoms of the novel coronavirus,” Barbot said.

Test results in the two new cases should be available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the next day or two, the city said.

A patient at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan tested negative for the fast-moving disease, authorities said Tuesday. Test results from two other people in Queens are still pending.

“New York City is on high alert and prepared to handle any confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus,” Mayor de Blasio said. “My message to New Yorkers remains the same: if you have the travel history and are exhibiting symptoms, please see your health provider immediately.”

Twelve cases of coronavirus have been identified in the U.S. — including a Wisconsin man who was reported Wednesday to have tested positive for the illness.