New York state officials are sending National Guard troops to a special “containment area” centered in a suburban community that has a large cluster of confirmed coronavirus cases.

In response to the rapidly intensifying outbreak, the troops will be dispatched to New Rochelle, where schools are closing for two weeks because of the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

The Westchester County city, about 20 miles north of Manhattan, has a population of about 77,000 people.

Cuomo said the state is sending National Guard troops to New Rochelle to help clean surfaces and distribute food in the outbreak area. In addition, a coronavirus testing facility is being set up in the community.

Some troops have already arrived at a command post set up by the city health department in New Rochelle “to assist with the outbreak,” CNBC reported.

The coronavirus outbreak has prompted school officials to shut down New Rochelle schools for two weeks, starting Friday. In another step, “major gathering places,” including temples and other facilities in the containment zone, will be closed as a precaution, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

“It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster of (coronavirus) cases in the country,” Cuomo said Tuesday. “The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle."

Of the 173 confirmed coronavirus cases reported so far in New York state, 108 cases are in Westchester County — with a large cluster in New Rochelle.

As of Tuesday afternoon, New Jersey has 15 confirmed coronavirus cases, including one that resulted in the death of a 69-year-old Bergen County man. This was the first known coronavirus fatality in the Garden State and was announced by state officials during an afternoon press conference.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.