Yonker‘ Free Pre‘‘ FRIDAY MARCH 5, 2020 - BRIAN HARROD PUBLISHER Yonkers skating rink to be sanitized due to potential exposure to COVID-19 virus Yonkers To Temporarily Close E.J. Murray’s Skating Rink By CHRISTINA GILMARTIN - CITY OF YONKERS Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano to- day announced the temporary clos- ing of E.J. Murray’s Skating Rink in Yonkers due to potential exposure to the COVID-19 Virus (or coron- avirus). Out of an abundance of caution, the city decided to close the public rink for cleaning and sanitizing after learning members of a local hockey team who recently played at the rink are now being quarantined because of possible contact with the coronavirus. “While we have no evidence rink patrons were directly exposed to the virus, we are moving ahead with a temporary closure of the rink to conduct a thorough cleaning,” said Mayor Spano. “We cannot be too careful right now, and do not want to place resi- dents at additional risk. We ask res- idents to continue to be mindful and stay home if they are not feeling well and to practice regular hand wash- ing.” E.J. Murray’s Skating Rink, lo- cated at 348 Tuckahoe Road, is ex- pected to reopen in the coming days. Residents are encouraged to call the Mayor’s 24-hour hotline for any updates of city program or facility closings at 914-377-HELP (4357). Coronavirus Update By BRIAN HARROD Two more people in the city have tested positive for coronavirus and are hospitalized in an intensive care unit and more cases have been con- firmed elsewhere in the state, includ- ing the first on Long Island, bringing New York ’ s total to 22 cases. Most of the new cases an- nounced Thursday were in Westch- ester County and are tied to the mid- town Manhattan lawyer whose case marked the state ’ s first instance of community spread. Awareness is at an all-time high in Westchester County after a new clus- ter of cases of coronavirus (COVID- 19) was discovered Wednesday and Thursday. Two employees at Iona College in New Rochelle have been placed un- der self-quarantine for possible con- tact with COVID-19. Two public school districts in Mount Vernon and Hastings also closed, as well as suspending all after- school activities. Meanwhile, for students at Iona College, the school says it is deep cleaning and sanitizing their facilities, but not saying where the two employ- ees worked on campus. The school has also cancelled all of their spring break service trips and international programs, with no deci- sion made ye ton summer or fall can- cellations. The Long Island patient is a 42- year-old man from Nassau County who is hospitalized and, according to Cuomo, had " underlying medical conditions. " Officials said the man is from the Hempstead suburb of Union- dale. Tnew New York City cases a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s has a known connection to travel or any previously diagnosed local COVID-19 patients, marking what appears to be fresh community spread in the five boroughs. Two schools in Manhattan an- nounced that they will be closed on Friday, amid the spread of COVID- 19 cases. The Spence School on the Upper East Side said on its website that it will be closed for a " comprehensive sanitization of the entire campus. " On the other side of the island, Upper West Side ’ s Collegiate School said on its website that it will be closed as well, but did not provide a reason. That concern is only grow- ing as more cases pop-up where " superspreaders " apparently passed the disease to others. The Westchester attorney who had an underlying respiratory illness, and was hospitalized in the state ’ s first case of person-to-person spread, apparently passed it on to his neigh- bor and family, who passed it on to a friend ’ s family – and, possibly, others. In New Jersey, a 32-year-old man tested positive for novel coronavirus but officials are awaiting a confirmed positive from the CDC