ALBANY, N.Y.—The executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as the state of New York surpassed Washington state with the most cases in the country, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Rick Cotton, the Port Authority head, is presently working from home, and members of his senior team are being tested, Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference Monday morning. The governor didn’t say how Mr. Cotton contracted the virus. The Port Authority oversees the airports in the New York City area, as well as a commuter railroad, a bus terminal and port facilities.

The number of cases of coronavirus in New York state rose to 142—one more than Washington, making New York the state with the largest number of confirmed infections.

There were 16 new cases in Westchester, and seven new cases in New York City, according to Mr. Cuomo, who called Westchester County a national hot spot.

The governor said that only eight people out of the state’s 142 confirmed cases have been hospitalized.