April 1, 2020 Staff Report Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise its policy of turning away blood donations from gay and bisexual men in light of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the nation’s blood supply. The pair, who both represent portions… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A New York City artist has erected “Thank You” signs outside various city hospitals – including Elmhurst Hospital – to show his appreciation for frontline staff battling the COVID-19 spread. Scott LoBaido, a Staten Island native who has been creating patriotic art for 25 years, said he wanted to… Read more »
Op-ed: April 1, 2020 By State Sen. Mike Gianaris America is facing an unprecedented public health crisis which will soon become an unprecedented economic and housing crisis. With rents due April 1 and jobless claims expected to pass 3.5 million this week, we could see millions evicted from apartments, homes foreclosed upon, and small businesses… Read more »
March 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin The 350-bed temporary hospital that will takeover a portion of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be used as an overflow facility to specifically help the heavily-burdened Elmhurst Hospital. The beds will begin serving non-ICU coronavirus patients next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today at the… Read more »
March 31, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A popular Indian-American supermarket chain has announced that it has temporarily closed all of its U.S. stores – including its Jackson Heights location – in order to help flatten the coronavirus curve. Patel Brothers – which runs over 50 grocery stores specializing in food found in the Indian sub-continent… Read more »
March 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will keep a stretch of 34th Avenue closed to traffic through Sunday, April 5, extending its street closure pilot plan to promote social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. The Mayor’s Office announced that 34th Avenue between 73rd and 80th Streets will close to cars and other… Read more »
March 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin A portion of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the home of the U.S. Open, will be converted into a 350-bed temporary hospital as the coronavirus pandemic strains New York City’s hospital system. The Flushing Meadows Corona Park arena will begin its conversion Tuesday, a spokesperson for the… Read more »
March 31, 2020 By Michael Dorgan COVID-19 has killed more than 300 Queens residents since the outbreak of the pandemic, according to the latest data released by the NYC Department of Health this morning Since the beginning of the outbreak, Queens has been the hardest borough hit with 309 lives lost, accounting for 33 percent… Read more »
March 31, 2020, By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill De Blasio has announced that the city – in partnership with FEMA – will get an additional 250 ambulances and around 500 extra EMTs and paramedics to help meet the spike in demand for emergency services. The extra resources will increase medical transport capacity between medical sites… Read more »
March 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City has added 169 contract nurses to Elmhurst Hospital — dubbed the “epicenter of the epicenter” of the coronavirus pandemic — in order to assist existing staff overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. The contract nurses are a combination of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians. They are… Read more »