NYC Needs 400 Additional Ventilators This Week, de Blasio Says

NEW YORK, NY — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio requested 400 additional ventilators be sent to the city as soon as possible during a Sunday morning call with President Donald Trump, the mayor announced during a Sunday afternoon briefing.

De Blasio is calling on the federal government to distribute the additional ventilators by Wednesday, April 1 as confirmed coronavirus cases topped 30,000 this weekend, de Blasio said. As of Sunday afternoon, 32,308 people have tested positive for the virus and 678 have died, the mayor said.

In the 24-hour period before de Blasio's briefing coronavirus killed 161 people, solidifying the fact that New York City remains the "epicenter" of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, de Blasio said.

To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.

New York City needs to stockpile 15,000 ventilators an anticipation of coronavirus' peak in the city, de Blasio said Sunday. Currently, the city has distributed about 1,400 ventilators to hospitals. De Blasio thanked Trump and federal officials for sending thousands of these ventilators to the city, but urged that reinforcements are needed. De Blasio said Sunday that the worst effects of the coronavirus outbreak are yet to come for New York City, anticipating that April infections and deaths will likely outpace those in March.

No coronavirus patients in need of ventilators in New York City public hospitals have had the life-saving equipment denied, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals Mitchell Katz said during Sunday's briefing.

"Everyone who has needed a ventilator has gotten one, but there is tremendous anxiety for the coming weeks," Katz said.

Hospitals in the NYC Health + Hospitals are at double the normal capacity of patients and ICUs are at triple the normal capacity rates, Katz said. The overwhelming coronavirus situation at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens has resulted in hundreds of additional staff being assigned to the facility, officials said Sunday.

Essentials such as police, fire and EMS services have become more difficult to deliver with the city directing so many resources to the coronavirus outbreak, city officials said Sunday. This week saw the five busiest days in the city's emergency response system's history, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. Nigro said that about 6,000 calls would be made to 9-1-1 on Sunday, more than 50% the normal amount. Response times for cases deemed lower priority have declined due to the high volume of critical emergencies, Nigro said.

Mayor de Blasio also spoke Sunday about the $2 trillion stimulus package recently passed by congress, saying he expects funds allocated for New York City to be delivered in the coming weeks. De Blasio said Sunday that he spoke with members of the city's congressional delegation this week, who believe there is "no question" another stimulus package will be needed to address the coronavirus crisis in the country. De Blasio said that any additional stimulus must direct aid to the areas most significantly effected by the outbreak of coronavirus and must replace the revenue lost by cities and states as a result of prolonged shutdowns and refund costs taken by those municipalities to fight the virus.

Coronavirus In NYC: What's Happened And What You Need To Know