A new report suggests that the city was completely unprepared when COVID-19 hit our shores, and claims it was the creativity of New Yorkers that made the difference.
The investigation carried out by Comptroller Scott Stringer reveals flaws in the city’s response, such as the lack of a prior operational plan to respond to a pandemic, weak resource management, and inadequate data collection, among others.
“We will never forget who and what we lost, and we cannot erase the mistakes of the past,” the comptroller wrote in a message on social media.
“But we can make sure we are better prepared for future emergencies and the next pandemic,” Stringer added.
We will never forget who and what we lost, and we cannot erase the mistakes of the past.
But we can make sure we are better prepared for future emergencies and the next pandemic.https://t.co/iSnNTLcBY3
— Scott M. Stringer (@NYCComptroller) August 18, 2021
For his part, Mayor de Blasio said that there is no way to understand a global pandemic until you are in it and no one could anticipate it. He also added that leadership was needed at the federal level that was not there.
Among some recommendations for future emergencies, Stringer suggested making sure you have enough supplies such as hospital beds and personal protective equipment, as well as ensuring that city agencies are coordinated and unified to identify and maintain such reserves.
“Our investigation shows weaknesses in planning and preparation and failure to make decisions promptly when time was of the essence and every minute counted,” added the comptroller in another post on social media.
“As the pandemic continues to sweep across the country and around the world, we must take stock of what we have learned,” Stringer said.
Our investigation shows weaknesses in planning and preparation and failures to promptly make decisions when time was of the essence and every minute counted.
As the pandemic continues to rage across the country and around the world, we must take stock of what we’ve learned.
— Scott M. Stringer (@NYCComptroller) August 18, 2021
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