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New York City is fast approaching its projected peak of the coronavirus crisis, and its supply of medical equipment necessary for treatment COVID-19 patients still falls dangerously short.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly cited April 5 as a “demarcation line” after which the city will experience a huge surge in patients, and on Wednesday said that medical workers still needed 3.3 million N95 masks; 2.1 million surgical masks; 100,000 isolation gowns; and 400 more ventilators. In addition to the rush for supplies, city and state officials have made urgent calls to bring on more medical workers.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also stressed the immediate need for supplies in his Thursday morning news conference, calling on any manufacturers with the capability to pivot to making masks and gowns.
The governor also said that overnight, the state had released 400 more ventilators to New York City hospitals, and that aggressive efforts to obtain more ventilators are still under way. “We have researched every possibility,” Cuomo said. “Every measure you can possibly take to find ventilators, this state has done.”
For private citizens without access to manufacturing facilities, there are still ways to contribute. Below is a list of options for donating both cash and medical gear to the New York City medical workers and facilities on the front lines of the crisis:
Donating money
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City has been set up to provide “resources and support” to health-care workers and essential staff, as well as small businesses, hourly workers, and other vulnerable New Yorkers. Donations can be made here.
NYC Health + Hospitals is accepting cash donations that will be used toward supplies to support health-care workers, including meals, groceries, laundry services, and scrubs. Donations can be made here.
Mount Sinai Hospital is accepting monetary donations — which will go toward patient care, as well as treatment and vaccine research — at its COVID-19 Response Fund here.
The Afya Foundation, a nonprofit that helps distribute donated, unused medical supplies,is coordinating donation of PPE to hospitals across the city. Monetary donations can be made here.
Donating supplies
The New York City Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Portal accepts donations of medical equipment, including ventilators; disposable latex-free gloves; single-use (disposable) full face shields; indirectly vented goggles; single-use (disposable fluid resistant gowns); face masks; hand sanitizer; thermometers; surgical N95 respirators; N95 respirators; N99/N100 respirators; R95 respirators; and P95/P99/P100 respirators. Information on how to donate can be found here, and donations can be set up via phone at 833-NYC-0040 (833-692-0040)
New York state has a volunteer and donation portal as well. It includes the option to donate masks and other essential PPE. Submission forms can be found here. https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/nys-covid19-tracking-offers.
New York state is also accepting donations and inquiries at Covid19supplies@esd.ny.gov or 212.803.3100.
SUNY Downstate is accepting PPE supplies, including N95 masks, surgical masks, goggles, face shields, and gowns. Donation inquiries can be made to donations@downstate.edu.donations@downstate.edu.
In addition to cash donations, the Ayfa Foundation is accepting and distributing supplies, including all types of masks, procedure gloves, and goggles. Information on how to donate can be found here. https://afyafoundation.org/covid-19/supplies/.
In lieu of having individuals call overwhelmed hospitals for donation information, #GetUsPPE has developed a searchable nationwide database of locations accepting donations of medical gear, including dozens in New York City.
For those with surgical masks or respirators to donate, PPE 2 NYC has a form with options for both in-person and mail-in mask donations.
