New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has issued a stark warning that the city’s healthcare system has nine days before potential collapse under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic unless urgent measures are taken.
At a press conference on Friday, de Blasio said that he believes the city’s strained healthcare system has the personnel and supplies to make it through next week, but beyond that is uncertain.
It came as total cases in the city hit 25,573 deaths reached 366, and hospitals throughout the city reported being strained to the limit with critical patients.
‘After next Sunday, April 5, is when I get very, very worried about everything we’re gonna need,’ he said, saying that an infusion of medical staff and equipment was needed to stave of disaster.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has issued a stark warning that the city’s healthcare system has nine days before potential collapse under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic
‘I’ve put down that marker to the White House, that that is a decisive moment for the city of New York,’ he said, saying the city urgently needs additional federal and military support, as well as at least 15,000 ventilators.
‘We need to make sure we can get to that day and make sure we can get to that day and face the week after that, and the week after that as well,’ de Blasio said. ‘Right now we’re not there.’
‘I think people need to be ready for battle, and the hard truth helps them gird themselves for what’s ahead,’ he continued.
As of 8.30am on Friday, New York City had 25,573 confirmed cases, an increase of 10.6 percent from the day prior.
Deaths increased by just one, to 366, one day after the city recorded 177 deaths. It’s possible that there is a reporting issue and some of the deaths from Thursday night have yet to be recorded.
Of the five boroughs, Queens is now the epicenter of the epicenter, with 8,214 cases, a one-day increase of 32 percent.
Brooklyn, the most populous borough, has 6,750 cases, up 26 percent from Thursday.
The Bronx has 4,655 cases and Manhattan has 4,478 cases, both increases of 18 percent. Staten Island was up 6 percent, at 1,440 cases.
De Blasio said that additional staffers had been deployed to Elmhurst hospital in Queens, the city’s hardest hit facility, which recorded 13 deaths in 24 hours earlier this week.
Today, 64 additional clinicians were sent to Elmhurst, and 105 extra nurses going there tomorrow, according to de Blasio. In addition, 45 members of the hospital’s ambulatory staff have been reassigned to work on coronvirus patients.
A patient is wheeled into the trauma center at the Elmhurst Hospital Center where testing and treatment for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is taking place in Queens on Friday
Workers build a makeshift morgue outside of Bellevue Hospital to handle an expected surge in coronavirus victims on Friday in New York City
‘Elmhurst is the first in everyone’s mind,’ he said. ‘We’re making sure reinforcements are sent constantly.’
De Blasio urged President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to mandate private companies to begin cranking out medical supplies, and called for a full mobilization of the military.
The mayor said that he spoke to Trump on Friday about how the city needs additional medical personnel as quickly as possible, and asked Trump to keep Elmhurst in mind, as Trump grew up in Queens.
At his press conference, de Blasio said that trying to promote economic recovery before controlling the pandemic and preventing a healthcare system collapse was ‘putting the cart before the horse.’
‘Recovery only comes when people are whole; they are safe. When we’re a functioning nation again. That’s when we go into recovery,’ he said.
NYC releases more prisoners from Rikers Island as de Blasio threatens $500 fines for people who disregard social distancing
De Blasio said he is considering fining people up to $500 if they continue to disregard orders against congregating in parks.
‘Overwhelmingly, we’re seeing the vast majority of New Yorkers do the right thing, observe social distancing, spend only the time that they have to be outdoors, outdoors,’ he said.
However, he added: ‘We have seen some non-compliance that is really of concern. We obviously have to think about the warmer weather coming ahead.’
De Blasio said that he would make a decision this weekend about whether to begin issuing fines of $500 against violators.
Crowds of people are seen out in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park during the outbreak on Friday. De Blasio has threatened to fine people $500 for congregating in groups in parks
People are seen out in Manhattan’s Hudson River Park on Friday in the midst of the pandemic
Thus far, the NYPD has been patrolling parks and telling any groups to break up and move along, but relying on education rather than penalties.
‘No more getting together unless it’s with people under your roof. If you don’t follow the rules, we’re going to have to start penalizing,’ de Blasio said. ‘This is really, really serious.’
‘I need people to listen. We’ll have more information on that over the weekend. I’m asking New Yorkers to take it seriously or else there will have to be more severe measures,’ he continued.
De Blasio also threatened penalties against houses of worship that flout the ban on mass gatherings, but did not specify the fines he is considering.
Rikers Island jail complex is seen in a file photo with Manhattan in the background. Inmates have been released by the hundreds in recent days
‘A small number of churches, synagogues are not paying attention to this guidance. I want to say to all those who are preparing services; if you go to your church or synagogue and attempt to hold services, our enforcement agents will have no choice but to shut down those services,’ he said.
‘It’s the last thing I want to do – people need their faith – but we do not need mass gatherings.’
Meanwhile, the city continues to release inmates from Rikers Island in a bid to limit the chance of an outbreak in the island’s jails.
De Blasio said that as of Thursday night, 375 inmates had been released, a number that would exceed 450 by Friday night.
He boasted in a tweet that the city’s jail population was now at its lowest level since 1949.