Cabrera Issues Statement On Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Fatalities

Councilman Fernando Cabrera Looks to Unseat AOC

On Wednesday, Apr. 8, Council Member Fernando Cabrera issued the following statement on racial disparities in COVID-19 fatalities, with hispanic deaths highest. “The numbers released tell a disgraceful story. What we in low-income communities of color have suspected all along is finally out in the open. There is a tremendous racial disparity in the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in New York City and throughout the United States. In New York City, Hispanics are 34% of COVID-19 fatalities but only 29% of the population. African-Americans are 28% of fatalities but only 22% of the population. Compared to whites

By Síle Moloney

Students and staff at St. Catharine Academy high school in Allerton are doing what they can to ‘flatten the curve’ and help reduce the burden on the City’s health service, as the Bronx ranks third, after Queens and Brooklyn, in the number of positive COVID-19 cases citywide. The students and staff made a short public awareness video called, “I Stay Home,” highlighting their individual reasons for adhering to the governor’s order to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kerry Schmid, dean of student life and athletic director at the Catholic high school for girls, coordinated the project. She

By David Greene

As New York City hospitals brace for a wave of further sickness and death that could overtax the entire healthcare system before the ‘flattening of the curve’ is reached in the next ten days, members of the New York City Police Benevolent Association (PBA) took time out to thank the staff of Montefiore Hospital. PBA president, Patrick Lynch joined a few dozen members of his union outside Montefiore Children’s Hospital on Bainbridge Avenue at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6, to show their appreciation, delivering drinks and 1,000 sandwiches, hastily made by Panico’s Community Market in Smithstown, Long Island,

By Síle Moloney

Mount Sinai researchers are tracking COVID-19 across New York City through a program called STOP COVID NYC. The public’s participation in the program survey will help healthcare workers and government officials advise the community on how to slow COVID-19 transmission in New York City. Public participation in the ongoing survey could also help predict smaller outbreaks within neighborhoods of New York City and enable Mount Sinai to alert medical professionals in those affected areas and allocate resources accordingly. Who Can Participate? Everyone. Mount Sinai is collecting information and tracking symptom development from all New York City residents and workers. The

By Síle Moloney

New measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus were announced on April 2. NYC Parks’ playgrounds and the amenities contained within, such as basketball courts, handball courts and restrooms, are closed until further notice. The citywide enforcement effort to encourage social distancing among park-goers remains in place, involving multiple City agencies, including NYPD, OSE, the Sheriff’s Office, DEP, DSNY, DOB, and FDNY. The City will continue to monitor conditions and determine if more severe restrictions are necessary. As it stands, violators of social distancing requirements will be fined between $250-$500 per violation. The new penalties are needed

By Síle Moloney

NYC Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (REMAC) is requesting the public to adhere to new protocol when it comes to minor illness or injury. A press release issued on April 2 contained the following information. “In an effort to protect our residents and our Essential First Responders, specifically our EMTs and Paramedics, the NYC Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (REMAC), has revised several regional protocols. The following refers to the most recent: 1. To maintain a functioning EMS System the staffing requirements have been relaxed to allow 911 ALS units to operate with 1 paramedic and 1 EMT,

By Síle Moloney

New York State retains its status as the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States. During his daily press briefing on April 2, Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed the latest number of COVID-19 positive cases in New York State as 92,381. As of April 2, the City had lost 1,562 New Yorkers from the virus. The Bronx still has the third highest number of positive cases per borough after Queens and Brooklyn, with 9,343 recorded cases, representing 19 percent of the City’s total case numbers. Meanwhile the citywide count of positive cases stood at 49,707 as of April 2, according

An unnamed female committee chair on Bronx Community Board 7 has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in quarantine. The news was confirmed during a virtual board meeting on March 24. One meeting participant requested confirmation of whether all people who had been in recent contact with the affected board member had been notified. The question was noted for follow-up action by the board. With all Community Board 7 voting currently on hold, the primary purpose of the virtual meeting was to inform those in attendance about the various federal, state, city and community responses to the unfolding

As New York State remains the epicenter in the United States in the battle against the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Disease Control provides the following guidelines on how to prevent the spread.