As City Fights COVID-19, Mayor de Blasio Updates New Yorkers on Personnel, Ventilators and Personal Protective Equipment

April 5, 2020

Video available at: https://youtu.be/aYMbsvJURa8

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today provided a critical update on the City’s supply and personnel needs in the City’s fight against COVID-19. While the City has secured critical supplies and medical staff to help save lives in the immediate future, it still faces a critical shortfall of ventilators and personnel need to get through this crisis.
 
“New York City is facing a crisis that rivals only the Spanish Influenza and the Great Depression,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.  “We need bold action—and fast. We need to mobilize doctors, nurses, and supplies to our front lines. And it needs to happen now – before it’s too late.”
 
Citywide as of 6:00 PM on April 5th , there are 64,955 positive cases of COVID-19 and 2,472 fatalities. There are 12,738 confirmed cases in the Bronx, 17,520 in Brooklyn, 9,251 in Manhattan, 21,781 in Queens, and 3,628 in Staten Island.
 
Critical Supply Update
The City has, to date, delivered 2,865 full service ventilators and 1,780 breathing assistance machines. Currently, 135 full-service ventilators remain in the City’s reserves. To adequately treat the number of new patients who are being intubated daily—approximately 200-300 citywide —the City must secure a total of 1,000-1,500 more ventilators by Sunday, April 12th.
 
To address this immediate need, the City is requesting ventilators from the federal stockpile, which has a total of 10,000 ventilators. The City is also working with the State to obtain ventilators from the State stockpile, which is estimated to have a total of 2,800 full-service ventilators.

While the City has a sufficient amount of PPE like surgical masks, eyewear, and gloves, an additional delivery of N95s and surgical gowns is needed to last through the week.

Personnel Needs
Today, the federal government sent 291 military medical personnel to be dispatched to NYC Health+ Hospitals. This is the first response the City has seen to the original request for 1,000 nurses, 300 respiratory therapists, and 150 doctors.