As of March 30, 2020 10:35 p.m.
–
–
–
Because the hospitals in New York are overloaded, the Navy sends a hospital ship into the city. It has 1000 beds – but is still little more than a drop in the ocean.
–
–
–
–
–
By Peter Mücke, ARD-Studio New York
Usually, cruise ships with tourists dock at the port on the west side of Manhattan. But nothing is normal in New York right now. “The president is right, it’s war,” says New York State Governor Andrew Coumo.
And so with the “USNS Comfort” a ship of the US Navy drops anchor. When the floating military hospital with 1,000 beds and twelve operating theaters last docked here – after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 – New York was also at war.
US Navy hospital ship arrives in New York
daily news 6:00 a.m., March 31, 2020
–
–
The enemy today is different. But the reaction to the enemy must be the same, says Mayor Bill de Blasio: “It’s an atmosphere like in wartime. We have to move together now. In peacetime you can argue, in war you have to stand together.”
Dank an Trump
And so both de Blasio and Cuomo – both of whom have otherwise heartily disliked the president – thanked Donald Trump for commanding the ship to New York. “This ship is not just a help because it provides beds and staff and equipment. It’s also a sign of hope that gives New Yorkers a boost in morale. And it’s a signal to the heroes in the world Hospitals that support and help are on the way. ”
Hardly any relief
Despite all the pathos, De Blasio then had to admit that 40 ships of this size would actually be needed to be prepared for the height of the Corona crisis. Experts expect this in two to four weeks. By then, a total of eight temporary hospitals with several thousand beds are to be set up in halls and convention centers.
All of them – like the “USNS Comfort” and a small field hospital in Central Park – are intended to relieve the hospitals of non-corona patients, so de Blasio. “It is my job to tell the New Yorkers the truth. I will tell you when the battle rages on. And I will tell you when the battle is over. Today I have to tell you: The tough weeks are yet to come yet.”
Ventilator prices are rising dramatically
This is especially true for hospital staff, some of whom are already working to the limit and complain about inadequate equipment. There is a lack of protective clothing, breathing masks and, above all, ventilators, which are difficult to obtain. In addition, the US states compete with each other in the market, says Governor Cuomo:
We have a situation in which everyone is buying the same product – ironically, in China, where the crisis began. We fight against ourselves and drive up the price. Two weeks ago we could buy a ventilator for under $ 20,000. Now they cost $ 50,000 – if you can still find any.
And then Cuomo falls back into war rhetoric: It must now be a matter of equipping the soldiers so that they can win the fight against the virus. “The soldiers in this fight are our doctors, nurses and helpers in the hospitals. These are the troops who are going into this battle for us.”
New York is gearing up for the war against Corona
Peter Mücke, New York, March 31, 2020 5:50 am
–
–
–
