Bronx pol Torres first on Council with virus
The rapidly spreading coronavirus has found its way into The New York Times newsroom, the Daily News has learned.
Workers at the Gray Lady were informed Monday that a newsroom staffer has been diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease.
The employee hadn’t been in The Times’ Midtown offices on Eighth Ave. since March 5, according to a notice sent out to staffers.
The stricken employee is not hospitalized but “in self-quarantine, recovering at home,” Publisher A.G. Sulzberger and Times’ Executive Editor Dean Baquet wrote.
“Because of the privacy considerations, we do not intend to identify the employee, but we have informed all the individuals who were in close proximity to this colleague,” the two wrote. “We’ve been in contact with each and asked them to monitor their health and self-quarantine.”
A Bronx elected official said Tuesday he has tested positive for coronavirus.
Councilman Ritchie Torres marks the first known member of the city’s legislative body to contract the potentially deadly virus.
“Last night, I found out that I had tested positive for #COVID19,” Torres tweeted. “Over the weekend, I learned that a senior staff member had tested positive after experiencing symptoms for several days. All members of my staff have quarantined themselves & are now closely monitoring their health.”
Torres (inset) said he and all members of his staff would go under quarantine.
“I’ll be working from home and resting as much as possible,” Torres added. “Social distancing, and isolating yourself, especially if you’re experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with someone carrying the virus, may be painful, but it’s absolutely essential.”
Torres is a candidate in the tough Democratic primary to rep the South Bronx in Congress. He joined the Council in 2014 and chairs the Oversight and Investigations Committee.
Twelve people in the state had died of the coronavirus as of Tuesday, according to Gov. Cuomo. The state has seen 1,544 positive cases, with 264 people hospitalized.
Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx) said over the weekend he would be tested for the virus after his son and another family member tested positive. Assemblyman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), the husband of Councilwoman Inez Barron (DBrooklyn), is one of two state pols who have tested positive for the virus.
Council Speaker Corey Johnson said City Hall would find people who have been in contact with Torres so they can self-isolate, “if necessary.” City Hall would get extra cleaning, he promised.