Bx. pol rips Andy
Son infected, he wants tests like W’chester
The state will test members of a Bronx elected official’s congregation after several of them were determined to be positive for coronavirus — including the pol’s own son.
Gov. Cuomo’s office reached out to City Councilman Fernando Cabrera after he began to complain Sunday of unequal treatment of his borough compared with New Rochelle, where the state’s first broad outbreak began.
“I’m frustrated that New Rochelle is getting all this attention and we people here in the Bronx are not being given a bit of attention by the state that is due to us,” Cabrera told the Daily News.
Cuomo declared a “containment zone” for part of New Rochelle last week, sending the National Guard to help scrub designated public spaces and deliver food to local residents. Drive-through coronavirus testing also became available.
Meanwhile, five members of Cabrera’s small New Life Bronx Church recently tested positive for the potentially deadly virus, according to the councilman.
Upon learning of the situation Sunday evening, Cuomo’s office promised to provide testing for potentially affected congregants — and Cabrera himself, the councilman said. About 27 people will be tested to start, he added.
“If I happen to have it, then I’ll be staying home for 14 days, quarantined,” Cabrera told The News. “I want to be part of the solution, not of the problem. I doubt it, but let’s see.”
“As soon as we were made aware of the situation, we were in touch and worked out a plan to ensure that they had the help and support they need,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said in an email.
Cabrera previously asked the state for help “decontaminating” his church. On Sunday, Cuomo’s office indicated the congregation would be on its own for that, according to the councilman. “[I’m] already in conversation with some people who know how to do it. It’s crazy,” Cabrera said.
His 30-year-old son got tested for the virus Monday, and the results came in positive Friday. Another member of Cabrera’s family also tested positive. While his family members were able to get tested, with the son now in self-quarantine at his home — he lives away from his father — Cabrera echoed the widespread complaint that there aren’t enough tests to go around.
Two state lawmakers representing parts of Brooklyn have also been diagnosed with coronavirus, officials announced Saturday.