A New Orleans patient who tested positive for the new coronavirus told WWL-TV in an interview Wednesday morning that he is feeling "OK" right now despite flu-like symptoms and is a friend of Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who was able to speak with him over the phone about his infection.

The man, who also said he works in the service industry, is hospitalized at Touro Infirmary. He is one of six patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 48 hours in Louisiana.

The man, who is not named in the interview, told Eric Paulsen, an anchor at our news partner at WWL-TV, that he sought treatment at Touro for "flu-type symptoms," adding that he was feeling weak, sore and had shortness of breath and body aches. He also has underlying health problems.

The staff ran basic tests and then tested him for the coronavirus, he said. The results came back positive. It is considered presumptive until the results are confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I feel OK right now," he said.

Watch the full interview on YouTube:

The man told Paulsen he was on a conference call with the mayor Tuesday that was focused on the response efforts.

"She was just surprised to hear that it was me because we are good friends," the man said.

He did not give any other details about how he knows the mayor. Paulsen also said he considers the man a friend.

As a member of the service industry, the man told WWL-TV that he's concerned about medical bills and taking time off work.

"We don't have paid leave as Uber/Lyft drivers or taxi drivers or people that work in the hotel industry and stuff like that," he said.

Here's what we know about the local coronavirus patients:

One Jefferson Parish resident hospitalized at the VA Medical Center

One Orleans Parish resident hospitalized at University Medical Center

One Orleans Parish resident hospitalized at Touro

One Orleans Parish resident hospitalized in Tulane Medical Center

One Orleans Parish resident hospitalized in Orleans Parish

One Orleans Parish resident hospitalized in St. Tammany Parish

All patients remain hospitalized as state health officials seek to identify people who may have come into contact with them.

+2 Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans treating 'presumptive positive' coronavirus patient Yet another local hospital is caring for a patient who has a presumptive case of the new coronavirus.

The state’s six known patients are among more than 800 discovered so far in the U.S., where at least 30 have died from the coronavirus.

While about 80% of people experience mild symptoms, officials said elderly people and those with other health conditions are more at risk. The global spread of the virus has upended financial markets, shuttered major events and injected uncertainty into Louisiana’s tourism economy and state budget.

Looking for additional news about the coronavirus in Louisiana? See our full coverage here.