De Blasio to Create Hospital at Billie Jean King Tennis Center
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday a new temporary hospital facility at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow.
The facility will treat COVID non-ICU patients beginning next Tuesday, April 7. The hospital will reach its full capacity of 350 patients over the next three weeks. These additional beds will help relieve some of the current need at Elmhurst Hospital.
“We’re approaching the toughest weeks of this crisis, and our city is rising to the challenge,” said de Blasio. “We are increasing hospital capacity at breakneck speed to ensure that every person in need of care will get it – no questions asked.”
Citywide as of 6 p.m., yesterday, March 31, there were 41,771 positive cases of COVID-19 and 1,096 fatalities. Queens had the largest number of confirmed cases with 13,869.
De Blasio also announced the city distributed 800,000 N95 masks, 3,000,000 face masks, 120,000 face shields, 40,000 gowns, and 600,000 surgical gloves to hospitals citywide.
The city has put out a call to oral surgeons, plastic surgeons, and veterinarians across the City to donate ventilators that are currently not in use. More information on how to donate is available here.
The city has now received and is working to dispatch all 2,500 ventilators received by the federal government. To date, the city has distributed a total of 3,056,000 face masks, 3,287,880 N95 masks, 65,470 gowns, and 1,305,940 surgical gloves to hospitals across the City.
The city as of yesterday has released at least 900 people from our jails and closed the Mauro Playground in Meadows Corona Park for not following social distancing measures.
Meng Working to Ensure Mail Service in her District
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park) announced yesterday that she is working with the U.S. Postal Service to get mail delivery restarted in the Queens communities of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale and Middle Village.
For nearly a week, many residents of these communities have not received their mail. According to a report, an employee at the Ridgewood Post Office tested positive for the coronavirus and workers have been concerned about safety issues.
“Our postal workers are among the essential employees who are making huge sacrifices to help our neighborhoods get through this crisis,” said Meng. “Every single precaution must be taken to protect their health and safety, and the safety of the public. My office has spoken with the Postal Service’s area manager who works with the Ridgewood Post Office. They say they are aware of the need to deliver people’s mail and know how vital it is to ensure that postal workers feel that they are protected. Officials are working on a solution.
“As mail service resumes, they will prioritize the delivery of important pieces of mail that constituents need, and for which they have been patiently waiting. We will continue to work with the Postal Service until residents once again receive their mail and of course, constituents can always feel free to reach out to my office. I also want to thank Councilman Holden for raising this issue as well,” she added.
Meng’s office is working remotely but continuing to serve constituents, and staff members are still easily accessible by phone or email at 718-358-MENG or NY06casework@mail.house.gov.
Addabbo Reminds Community to Fill Out 2020 Census
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) reminded the public yesterday that there is still time to participate in the 2020 Census in order to be counted.
Today, April 1 is known as Census Day, and it is a time to remind the community how important it is for everyone to be properly counted in the census so we do not miss out on the necessary federal dollars we need to fund local senior centers, the education system, housing programs, healthcare and many other community programs.
“During this time when we are practicing social distancing, it is a good opportunity to remind everyone that they should participate in the 2020 Census, if they haven’t done so already,” Addabbo said. “The U.S. Census happens every 10 years and counts how many people are in the country. Those numbers determine how much federal funding each state and city receive for vital social programs. So please, if you haven’t done so already, take part in Census Day and fill out the Census and let’s get our deserved federal funding!”
The census is only 10 questions, takes less than 10 minutes, and shapes our next 10 years. Additionally, for the first time ever, you can do it online at my2020census.gov, over the phone in 13 languages, or by mail.
Complete the census online now at my2020census.gov or by phone:
- English – 844-330-2020
- Spanish – 844-468-2020
- Chinese (Mandarin) – 844-391-2020
- Chinese (Cantonese) – 844-398-2020
- Vietnamese – 844-461-2020
- Korean – 844-392-2020
- Russian – 844-417-2020
- Arabic – 844-416-2020
- Tagalog – 844-478-2020
- Polish – 844-479-2020
- French – 844-494-2020
- Haitian Creole – 844-477-2020
- Portuguese – 844-474-2020
- Japanese – 844-460-2020
- Telephone Display Device (TDD) – 844-467-2020
Sanders Gives Coronavirus Update
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Rosedale, parts of Far Rockaway) gave the following updates concerning the COVID-19 outbreak.
Governor Cuomo has directed the state nonessential workforce to continue to work from home for an additional two weeks through April 15.
In-person workforce restrictions, which have been implemented through various executive orders are also extended until April 15.
Statewide school closures are extended by two weeks until April 15.
Public and private hospitals will implement a new balanced approach to fighting COVID-19 where hospitals that are beginning to reach or exceed capacity can transfer patients to other hospitals that are not as full.
NYS Department of Health will work with statewide healthcare systems to share Information about supplies among hospitals.
Pharmacies have agreed to offer free home delivery to help reduce long lines for prescriptions at their facilities.
The NYS’s Wadsworth Lab has developed a new test for COVID-19, which is done through a saliva sample and a self-administered short nasal swab.
The federal government has approved four new sites for temporary hospitals – the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, the Aqueduct Racetrack facility in Queens, CUNY Staten Island and the New York Expo Center in the Bronx – adding an additional 4,000 beds.
New Yorkers can call the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for mental health counseling.
New Yorkers without Health Insurance can apply through NY State of Health within 60 days of losing coverage.
Department of Motor Vehicles offices are temporarily closed for in-office visits. Online transactions, including for license renewals, are still be available. License and permit expirations will be extended.
Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.
Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns
