Coronavirus in N.Y.: ‘Containment Area’ Is Ordered for New Rochelle

Still, the spiraling scope of infection in New Rochelle, and the increasingly disruptive measures being used to fight it, were unsettling for residents, some of whom had already begun stockpiling supplies.

“We got our toilet paper, paper towel, water,” said Morrietta Nkomo, 47, who lives within the containment zone with her husband and 8-year-old daughter. “We got medical supplies, too. I wasn’t playing around.”

Local officials said that they were still seeking clarification from the state on some of the plan’s details. The affected area is a mix of homes and businesses, and it includes a country club as well as houses of worship.

But New Rochelle officials emphasized that the creation of the containment zone did not mean that people would be forced to quarantine themselves or that car and pedestrian traffic would be limited.

“Needless to say, there’s considerable concern,” said Noam Bramson, the city’s mayor, noting that some residents were already living under quarantine after possibly being exposed to the virus. “That said, I am very proud of our community.”

Still, Mr. Bramson said that some New Rochelle businesses were already suffering, in large part “because a fair percentage of the customer base is already quarantined.” That percentage, he said, included his mother, who lives in one of the area’s nursing homes, which have been a source of concern during the outbreak.

The containment plan also included setting up a new satellite testing facility for New Rochelle that would increase officials’ ability to test for the virus in the city, which has a population of around 80,000.