Mayor Bill de Blasio: “It’s not a question of if, but when the Coronavirus affects the United States.”

h. nazan ışık—

26 February 2020—

Mayor Bill de Blasio started a press conference on 26 February on Coronavirus preparedness “On behalf of the City of New York, I want to respond to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning that was issued yesterday and I want to commend the CDC for acknowledging the reality and saying very clearly that it’s not a question of if, but when the Coronavirus affects the United States in a much more profound manner.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, at a press conference on 26 February, on Coronavirus preparedness at City Hall. (Photo by: h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN)

“First information that I want to update you on, on the City of New York – as of this hour, there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the City of New York. Every single potential case that was tested came back negative and that is a very good thing.” Mayor de Blasio continued.

He said that right now there are 1200 hospital beds that can be make available immediately for any individual who is in the testing process or who tests positive and needs isolation in a hospital setting, and public health officials have distributed 1.5 million masks in the City of New York, and additional minimum of 300,000 surgical masks were requested to guarantee that these arrive in New York City promptly.

“I am urging the CDC and the federal government to add to China the testing protocol upon entry for visitors from Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Right now it is too narrowly focused on travelers coming out of China. If these steps are taken, I believe it will help us to respond more quickly. It will help all of us to identify cases more effectively and really limit the spread of this epidemic,” he said.

Well what if someone feels sick but can’t speak English, doesn’t have a primary care doctor? Here is an answer: “If you have symptoms that seem like a flu and there’s any possibility of a nexus to travel to those countries or anyone who’s been to those countries that’s close to you in your life, get to a doctor immediately. Now, a very fair question. What if someone doesn’t speak English? What if someone doesn’t have a primary care doctor? What if someone is not able themselves, physical disability or some other reason, to navigate the process? All that is necessary is for someone to call 3-1-1. If they cannot get to a doctor immediately we will get a doctor to them,” said Mayor de Blasio.

And, he also “We need the CDC to help us to help ourselves. Not just New York City, but cities all over the country. We have very advanced laboratory facilities as a part of our Department of Health. Other cities do as well. These facilities are being under-utilized by the CDC.”

Commissioner Barbot: “We don’t have the authorization to do the test here. We have to rely on the CDC,” about the test.

And about masks: “We recommend individuals who may be symptomatic and seeking medical care to wear masks, But for everyday New Yorkers, there’s no need to use a mask,” she said.

She added: “Washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and your nose when you cough and you sneeze, and remembering, as the Mayor said, if you’ve traveled to China and now more broadly to countries that have community person-to-person spread and you’re feeling symptomatic, call your doctor.”