‘Let us all pray for better news.’ Mayor says a minimum of 2,500-3,000 ventilators needed to get through next week
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is preparing for what he is calling a very difficult week ahead.
News 12 Staff
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Apr 3, 2020, 7:02 PM
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Updated 1,482 days ago
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is providing a coronavirus update.
BRIEFING NOTES:
-Mayor prepares everyone for what he is calling a very difficult week ahead. Says everyone needs to pull together and that supplies are going to be vital.
-Says hospital beds will be built in 'every conceivable location.'
-Mayor thanks President Trump and Jared Kushner, says they promised masks to various NYC hospitals and they are delivering,.
-15,000 ventilators needed to get through next crucial months. 45,000 new medical personnel. 85,000 hospital beds beyond the 20,000 the city started March with.
-On ventilators: Wants everyone to think about loved ones who may need a ventilator to live, says doctors and medical staff says when they need ventilators, they need it at that moment. Clearest example of life and death. For next week, minimum of 2,500 to 3,000 ventilators. 'Let us all pray that we start to see better news.'
-Praises governors Cuomo and Murphy for steps they've taken to secure ventilators within their states by facilities that don't need them urgently.
-Authorizes law enforcement to make sure hospitals and medical facilities comply with Gov. Cuomo's executive order to distribute ventilators where needed.
-Says additional 45,000 clinical staff will be needed to battle COVID-19 outbreak.
-"This is like a war that hasn't been declared but needs to be declared." Says staffing will need to be at a crisis level.
-Mayor calls for volunteers and clarifies that these people will be paid.
-Says we're in the middle of a war, and that volunteers won't be enough.
-Equates COVID-19 to a war, says if an outside army attacked U.S. states and killed thousands you would expect the military to be called upon. Says states should not be asked to go it alone. Says only way to get through this is full support of federal government, military and medical professionals from across the country.
-Calls for national enlistment effort to bring all available medical personnel into the fight against COVID-19.
-Says there is a small military presence in NYC, says it should be a huge presence. Calls on President Trump to act like we're fighting a war.
-Offers condolences to Comptroller Scott Stringer on the loss of his mother.
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