public health emergency

A new state bill would determine what price hikes would be deemed excessive price gouging during public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 outbreak.

"This is worrisome," said Dr. Irwin Redlener, the director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness.

"If these steps are taken, it will help us to respond more quickly and really limit the spread of this epidemic," the mayor said.

First, stop touching your face.

As of Thursday, there were still no suspected cases in New York City.

Confirmed cases of the infectious disease in New York City have more than doubled in the last six weeks, and are now affecting at least 285 people, most of whom are children.