Coronavirus
(Photo : Reuters)

A New York City lawyer was placed in critical condition on Wednesday after contracting the 2019 coronavirus. 

The Manhattan lawyer, Lawrence Garbuz, worked near Grand Central Terminal at the Lewis and Garbuz P.C., law firm. 

The patient is Manhattan's second case of coronavirus. 

Garbuz reportedly sought care in a suburban hospital on February 27 after experiencing respiratory problems. He was reported coronavirus positive four days later. 

The lawyer is under observation at the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 

The victim was said to use the Metro-North Railroad to commute from a home in New Rochelle.

Health officials reported four victims who tested positive after coming into contact with the lawyer --- his 20-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter, his wife, and a neighbor. 

New York City now has 11 confirmed coronavirus cases.

The victims are now quarantined at their homes.

Shutting Down

Authorities said the lawyer's son attends Yeshiva University while his daughter goes to SAR Academy and high school.

Administrators voluntarily closed the high school. 

Yeshiva University also said they are taking measures to ensure the safety of the community. The private university also announced it will cancel all classes on Wilf Campus in Washington Heights.

Agencies are also working with law firms and academic institutions to give employees proper guidance. 

Health officials have also asked the Young Israel of New Rochelle, a synagogue the family reportedly attended, to shut down operations due to potential exposure. 

"Congregants of the Temple who attended services on February 22, and a funeral and a bat mitzvah at the temple on February 23 must self-quarantine until at the very earliest March 8," the county department said. 

New York Law School also ceased operations after a student revealed coming into contact with the New Rochelle lawyer.

The unnamed student is now under self-quarantine. 

Administrators from the law school said the campus in now undergoing thorough cleaning.

Disease detectives are now working on identifying who may have come into contact with the victims. 

Also Read: The Coronavirus Cases in Each US State

A 39-year-old health-care worker is the first person to test positive for coronavirus in New York City. The woman self-quarantined herself after arriving from Iran with her husband. 

The health-care worker avoided taking public transportation and took a car service when she and her husband arrived Tuesday.

Her husband is reportedly under self-quarantine. Health officials are now testing him for COVID-19. 

Authorities are contacting passengers who shared the same flight with the couple, as well as the driver for their car service and anyone who may come into contact with them.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 129 cases in the US as of Wednesday. The report suggests an increase of 55 more patients since Tuesday. 

The CDC said 80 of the confirmed cases were picked up through the public health system in 23 states. 

Ten people have died due to coronavirus as of Wednesday. Several states including Washington State, Florida, and Los Angeles County, California have declared public health emergencies. 

New York City health officials promised transparency amid the rising number of coronavirus cases. 

Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot also urged the public to contact health care providers if they are experiencing cough, fever, or shortness of breath.