REVIVED IN THE FIELD SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
JOINING US NOW, THE MAYOR OF NEW
YORK CITY, BILL de BLASIO.
MAYOR de BLASIO, THAT IS A
PRETTY EXTREME DECISION THAT HAS
TO BE MADE, GIVEN THE SHORTAGES
OF DOCTORS, FOR THE MOST PART.
I WANT TO START THERE.
YOU’VE CALLED FOR A NATIONAL
ENLISTMENT OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL.
FROM WHAT WE’RE HEARING FROM THE
FRONT LINES, WE HAVE DOCTORS
THAT ARE IN CRISIS.
ALSO, A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS,
GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEIR FELLOW
DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE FALLING
ILL, RIGHT BESIDE THEM.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH
DOCTORS TO GET THROUGH THIS?
>> MIKA, THE TRUTH IS, UNLESS
THERE IS A NATIONAL EFFORT TO
ENLIST DOCTORS, NURSES, HOSPITAL
WORKERS OF ALL KIND, AND GET
THEM WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST
IN THE COUNTRY IN TIME, UNLESS
THAT HAPPENS, I DON’T SEE,
HONESTLY, HOW WE’RE GOING TO
HAVE THE PROFESSIONALS WE NEED
TO GET THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
LOOK AT THE SKYROCKETING NUMBER
OF CASES.
OF CASES. LOOK AT HOW MANY OF THESE
PATIENTS NEED ICU CARE.
THAT TAKES A LOT OF MEDICAL
PERSONNEL.
PERSONNEL. THAT TAKES VENTILATORS.
THIS COUNTRY IS NOT, ACTUALLY
THIS MOMENT, THIS IS THE SAD
TRUTH, MIKA, THIS COUNTRY IS NOT
IN POSITION TO DEAL WITH THIS
CRISIS GOING FORWARD.
WHATEVER WE’VE SEEN UP TILL NOW,
I’M GUARANTEEING YOU THAT NEXT
WEEK IS GOING TO BE A LOT
TOUGHER.
TOUGHER. I SAY THAT WITH NO JOY.
I’M SAYING IT TO TRY TO JOLT OUR
NATIONAL LEADERS INTO
UNDERSTANDING THAT NEXT WEEK IN
NEW YORK CITY IS GOING TO BE
VERY TOUGH.
VERY TOUGH. NEXT WEEK IN NEW YORK STATE, IN
DETROIT, NEW ORLEANS, AND A LOT
OF OTHER PLACES.
UNLESS THE MILITARY IS FULLY
MOBILIZED, AND WE CREATE
SOMETHING WE’VE NEVER HAD
BEFORE, WHICH IS SOME KIND OF
NATIONAL ENLISTMENT OF MEDICAL
PERSONNEL MOVED TO THE MOST
URGENT NEEDS IN THE COUNTRY
CONSTANTLY, IF WE DON’T HAVE
THAT, WE’RE GOING TO SEE A
HOSPITAL SIMPLY UNABLE TO HANDLE
SO MANY PEOPLE WHO COULD BE
SAVED.
SAVED. THIS IS WHAT GETS ME SO ANGRY.
I’VE BEEN TALKING TO THE LEADERS
OF THIS NATION FOR WEEKS NOW,
SAYING WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF
TIME.
TIME. I THINK WE HAVE LITERALLY DAYS
TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT’S NEVER
EXISTED BEFORE, FOR A CRISIS
THIS COUNTRY HAS NEVER SEEN
BEFORE.
BEFORE. WE HAVE DAYS TO SET UP A
STRUCTURE TO TRULY MOBILIZE THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY OF THIS
NATION, TO TRULY MOBILIZE OUR
MILITARY.
MILITARY. IF THAT IS NOT DONE IN THE
COMING DAYS, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE
PEOPLE DIE WHO DID NOT NEED TO
DIE.
DIE. NOT JUST IN NEW YORK BUT IN MANY
PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY.
>> SO WE’RE HEARING FROM DOCTORS
ON THE FRONT LINES, ESPECIALLY
FROM THE ERs, THAT THERE’S
PEOPLE WAITING IN STRETCHERS UP
TO FIVE HOURS.
AND THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING
UNNECESSARILY.
UNNECESSARILY. WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT
WHAT NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE, AND DO YOU NEED THE
MILITARY TO STEP IN, AND HOW?
>> MIKA, I HAVE ASKED REPEATEDLY
FOR THE MILITARY TO BE FULLY
MOBILIZED.
MOBILIZED. I’VE ASKED THE PRESIDENT.
I’VE SPOKEN TO THE DEFENSE
SECRETARY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.
I’VE SAID TO ALL OF THEM, JUST
DO THE MATH.
THERE’S NO WAY THE CIVILIAN
SECTOR ALONE CAN HANDLE THIS
CRISIS AT THIS POINT.
YOU’RE RIGHT, THAT HOSPITALS ARE
BEING STRESSED IN WAYS THEY
NEVER HAVE BEFORE.
WHAT NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE IS WE’RE GOING TO SEE A
SURGE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES.
WE’RE GOING TO SEE, EASILY COULD
BE AT THIS POINT, 5,000 OR MORE
PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY WHO NEED
TO BE INTUBATED, WHO NEED TO BE
IN ICUs WITH VENTILATORS.
WE HAVE ENOUGH VENTILATORS JUST
TO GET TO SUNDAY/MONDAY.
WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH YET FOR
NEXT WEEK.
NEXT WEEK. WE CERTAINLY, WHEN IT COMES TO
THE PERSONNEL, YOU CAN’T RUN AN
ICU WITHOUT PEOPLE.
YOU CAN’T HAVE A VENTILATOR SAVE
A LIFE WITHOUT A DOCTOR OR A
NURSE WHO IS THERE CONSTANTLY
MONITORING IT AND ADJUSTING IT.
WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT FOR TOO MUCH LONGER, FOR
EVERY SINGLE PATIENT, IF WE
DON’T GET REINFORCEMENTS.
I ASKED THE WHITE HOUSE, I ASKED
THE PENTAGON, TO SEND 1,000
NURSES, 150 DOCTORS, 300
RESPIRATORY DOCTORS.
RESPIRATORY DOCTORS. I ASKED FOR IT BY SUNDAY.
I PUT IN THE REQUEST MORE THAN
TEN DAYS AGO.
I TALKED TO FEMA AND HAVEN’T
GOTTEN A FIRM ANSWER TO THE
REQUEST.
REQUEST. I TOLD ALL OF THEM, LITERALLY,
IT IS COMING DOWN DAY TO DAY.
SOMEHOW, IN WASHINGTON, THERE IS
AN ASSUMPTION THAT THERE’S BEAKS
S
S WEEKS TO PREPARE.
IT’S NOT WEEKS ANYMORE.
IT IS DAYS BEFORE NEW YORK AND
OTHER PLACES ARE GOING TO RUN
OUT OF DOCTORS AND NURSES, RUN
OUT OF EQUIPMENT.
WHY ON EARTH?
THIS COUNTRY IS ACTING LIKE,
SOMEHOW, WE’RE STILL IN
PEACETIME.
PEACETIME. THIS IS A WARMENT.
IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT ENEMY.
IT’S AN ENEMY YOU CAN’T SEE, BUT
LOOK AT THE DEATH TOLL FOR GOD’S
SAKES.
SAKES. LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN
DANGER.
DANGER. THIS IS JUST AS BAD AS IF A
FOREIGN INVADER HAD LANDED ON
OUR SHORES.
OUR SHORES. YET, OUR MILITARY ARE AT THEIR
BASES.
BASES. I KNOW THEY DON’T WANT TO BE,
BUT THEY ARE STILL.
IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE.
>> MAYOR de BLASIO, WHAT COULD
THE MILITARY DO SPECIFICALLY
THAT THE CIVILIAN FORCE RIGHT
NOW CANNOT ACCOMMODATE?
PRESIDENT TRUMP WATCHES.
HE RESPONDS IN HIS TWEETS THAT
SHOWS HE IS WATCHING.
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE IT BE.
WHAT COULD HE DO TO HELP NEW
YORK CITY RIGHT NOW?
>> MIKA, HERE’S WHAT I’D SAY TO
THE PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDENT. THE MILITARY HAS WELL OVER
10,000 DOCTORS, FROM MY
UNDERSTANDING.
UNDERSTANDING. THE MILITARY HAS DOCTORS AND
NURSES NOT ONLY ON REGULAR DUTY
BUT IN THE RESERVES.
A LOT OF THOSE DOCTORS AND
NURSES ARE IN PLACES WHERE
THEY’RE DOING IMPORTANT WORK,
BUT NOT THE SAME AS FIGHTING AT
THE FRONT TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF
LIVES.
LIVES. ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE MOBILIZED
IMMEDIATELY.
IMMEDIATELY. THE MILITARY HAS THE FINEST
LOGISTICAL AND OPERATIONAL KPAS
CAPACITY OF ANY ORGANIZATION ON
EARTH.
EARTH. OUR MILITARY.
OUR MILITARY. THEY SHOULD BE ORGANIZING A
CIVILIAN ENLISTMENT OF MEDICAL
PERSONNEL.
PERSONNEL. IF YOU THINK ABOUT A DOCTOR
SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA’S
HEARTLAND, WHO RIGHT NOW IS
GOING ABOUT BUSINESS AS USUAL,
DOING GOOD WORK, BUT WE NEED
THAT DOCTOR AT THE FRONT, WHERE
THEY COULD BE SAVING LIVES.
WE’RE GOING TO LOSE LIVES THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED.
IT’S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
SO WE NEED THE MILITARY, WITH
THEIR INCREDIBLE LOGISTICAL AND
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, COMMAND
AND CONTROL ABILITY, TO LOOK AT
THIS ENTIRE NATION AND SAY,
OKAY, HERE ARE THE PLACES WE
MUST SURGE MEDICAL PERSONNEL.
USE AS MUCH OF THEIR MEDICAL
PERSONNEL AS POSSIBLE, AND BRING
IN A CIVILIAN ENLISTED PROGRAM.
THEY COULD GET A DOCTOR WHO,
RIGHT NOW, IS DOING GOOD WORK,
YOU KNOW, IN IOWA OR UTAH.
THEY COULD HAVE THEM IN NEW YORK
CITY AT THE FRONT IN HOURS.
THAT’S HOW GOOD OUR MILITARY
ARE.
ARE. BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN
THATrd ORDER, AND TIME IS RUNNIN
OUT.
OUT. IF THEY WERE GIVEN THE ORDER, WE
COULD CREATE SOMETHING IN OUR
TIME THAT COULD RIVAL THE
INCREDIBLE WORK OF THAT GREATEST
GENERATION OF WORLD WAR II,
WHERE THEY CREATED, FROM
NOTHING.
NOTHING. REMEMBER?
REMEMBER? OUR MILITARY WAS ALMOST
NON-EXISTENT AT THE TIME OF
PEARL HARBOR.
PEARL HARBOR. IT HAD TO BE CREATED ALMOST FROM
SCRATCH TO FIGHT WORLD WAR II.
OUR NATION DID THAT.
WE HAVE TO CREATE SOMETHING
WE’VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
WE HAVE TO CREATE THE ABILITY TO
TAKE THE INCREDIBLE MEDICAL
TALENT AROUND THIS COUNTRY AND
PUT IT ON A WAR FOOTING, PUT OUR
MILITARY ON WAR FOOTING.
GET THE RESOURCES TO THE FRONT,
AND THEN MOVE THEM, MIKA, THE
SECOND NEW YORK CITY TURNS THE
CORNER.
CORNER. MOVE THEM.
MOVE THEM. TAKE THE DOCTORS AND VENTILATORS
WHERE THEY’RE NEEDED NEXT.
NOTHING LIKE THAT IS BEING DONE,
MIKA.
MIKA. IT’S THE BLUNT TRUTH.
I HAD THE CONVERSATION, WITH ALL
DUE RESPECT, TO THE PRESIDENT
AND THE LEADERS OF THE NATION.
I WARNED THEM WHERE THIS IS
GOING.
GOING. I’VE HAD THE CONVERSATION
REPEATEDLY, AND NO SUCH ORDER
HAS BEEN GIVEN.
>> MAYOR de BLASIO, IT IS WILLIE
GEIST.
GEIST. I WANT TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NEW
YORK.
YORK. YOU, YESTERDAY, RECOMMENDED THAT
NEW YORKERS, WHEN THEY GO
OUTSIDE, WEAR SOME KIND OF A
FACE COVERING OVER THEIR NOSE
AND MOUTH.
AND MOUTH. WHAT WAS THE MEDICAL BASIS?
WHAT INFORMATION DID YOU GET TO
MAKE THAT PUBLIC RECOMMENDATION
YESTERDAY?
YESTERDAY? >> WILLIE, SIMPLY A SET OF
STUDIES THAT COME IN, JUST IN
THE LAST FEW DAYS.
MOST ESPECIALLY WAS ONE FROM
SINGAPORE, WHICH WAS A PLACE
THAT HANDLED THIS CRISIS WELL.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, OUR MEDICAL
LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE CITY
INCREASINGLY SEES EVIDENCE THAT
THERE COULD BE THAT ASYMPTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION.
TRANSMISSION. THERE’S NOT BEEN REAL EVIDENCE,
IN THEIR VIEW, OF THAT BEFORE.
SO THIS IS IN AN ABUNDANCE OF
CAUTION MOVE.
CAUTION MOVE. COULD BE A SCARF, BANDANA,
ANYTHING.
ANYTHING. PEOPLE ARE THINKING, WELL, THIS
MEANS I PERSONALLY CAN’T
CONTRACT THIS DID.
THAT’S NOT THE IDEA.
THE IDEA IS TO HELP MAKE SURE
THAT ALL OF US DON’T
ACCIDENTALLY SPREAD IT TO
SOMEONE ELSE.
SOMEONE ELSE. BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE IT, BE
ASYMPTOMATIC, AND NOT EVEN KNOW.
THIS IS AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION
MOVE, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE
NOT SPREADING IT TO OTHER
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. IT’S ONLY PERTINENT WHEN YOU
MIGHT BE CLOSE TO PEOPLE.
IF YOU’RE SOCIALLY DISTANCED,
YOU DON’T NEED IT.
IF YOU’RE AMONG THE PEOPLE YOU
LIVE UNDER THE SAME ROOF WITH,
YOU DON’T NEED IT.
IF YOU’RE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY,
YOU MAY USE IT.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN TAKE THE
SUSHLG
SUSHLG SURGICAL MASKS OR N-95 MASKS
AWAY FROM THE HEALTH CARE.
THAT’S SACRED.
THAT’S SACRED. THEY ARE PROTECTING ALL OF US.
ANYONE CAN MAKE A COVERING AT
HOME, SCARF, BANDANA, ANYTHING
LIKE THAT WILL DO.
>> WE’RE EXPECTING THE WHITE
HOUSE TO MAKE A SIMILAR
RECOMMENDATION TODAY.
RECOMMENDATION TODAY. THE USNS COMFORT SAILED INTO NEW
YORK HARBOR AND UP THE HUDSON
RIVER A COUPLE DAYS AGO, PAST
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE RELIEF
TO THE HOSPITALS, TO TAKE
NON-COVID-19 PATIENTS AND
PROVIDE 1,000 HOSPITAL BEDS.
WE LEARNED YESTERDAY, SO FAR,
ONLY 20 PATIENTS ABOARD THAT
SHIP.
SHIP. WHY IS THAT NUMBER SO LOW?
DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE THAT PICK
UP SOON?
UP SOON? >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. I’VE TALKED TO OUR COLLEAGUES IN
THE NAVY.
THE NAVY. I DON’T HAVE A NUMBER IN MY MIND
THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO CHANGE
VERY RAPIDLY.
VERY RAPIDLY. THE USNS COMFORT WAS AN
EXTRAORDINARY -- THE APPEARANCE,
THE ARRIVAL MEANT SO MUCH TO NEW
YORKERS.
YORKERS. IT WAS LIKE THE GREATEST SIGN OF
HOPE WE’D RECEIVED IN WEEKS.
I’M SURE THAT SHIP WILL BE VERY
FULL SOON.
FULL SOON. THEY HAVE TO BE SMART ABOUT THE
CASES THEY TAKE AND CREATE A
PROTOCOL THAT’S GOING TO WORK.
IT IS GOING TO GET VERY BUSY,
VERY QUICKLY, NEXT WEEK.
SO I’M CONVINCED THAT, OVER THE
NEXT FEW DAYS, THEY’LL BE
PREPARED AND THEY’LL BE FILLING
UP.
UP. NEXT WEEK IS WHAT WORRIES ME.
THAT’S WHEN THINGS REALLY JUMP
OFF.
OFF. WE’RE GOING TO NEED THE COMFORT,
AND EVERY OTHER PLACE IN THE
CITY THAT WE CAN GET HOSPITAL
BEDS UP AND RUNNING.
WE’RE EXPECTING A HUGE SURGE
JUST IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
>> ALSO, THE JACOB JAVITS
CONVENTION CENTER PROVIDING AN
ADDITIONAL 2,500 BEDS TO PROVIDE
RELIEF, AS WELL.
WE’VE HAD YOU ON A BUNCH THE
LAST COUPLE MONTHS, MAYOR de
BLASIO, TALKING ABOUT THIS.
YOU’VE BEEN GRACIOUS TO COME ON
A BUNCH AND UPDATE US AND THE
COUNTRY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, THE SET OF FACTS WE
HAVE TODAY ARE A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN THEY WERE TWO MONTHS AGO.
BUT YOU TRY TO CALM PEOPLE ON
THESE MORNING INTERVIEWS, WHERE
YOU’D SAY, I’M NOT GOING TO
CLOSE THE SCHOOLS.
I’M NOT GOING TO CLOSE THE
PLAYGROUNDS.
PLAYGROUNDS. I THINK YOU CAN STILL GO OUT AND
LIVE YOUR LIVES.
KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, DO
YOU WISH YOU’D CLOSED THE
SCHOOLS EARLIER?
SCHOOLS EARLIER? DO YOU WISH YOU’D CLOSED THE
RESTAURANTS AND BARS A LITTLE
BIT EARLIER, JUST TO STOP THE
SPREAD AND MAYBE SAVE SOME
LIVES?
LIVES? >> YOU KNOW, WILLIE, WE’RE ALL
TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF
SOMETHING WE’VE NEVER DEALT WITH
BEFORE.
BEFORE. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
LOOK, THIS CITY, I GAVE THE
ORDER TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANTS
AND BARS.
AND BARS. OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS -- WE WERE
ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES TO DO
IT.
IT. I CALLED FOR SHELTER IN PLACE
RIGHT AFTER SAN FRANCISCO DID
IT.
IT. I GIVE THEM GREAT CREDIT.
MAYOR BRIE DID SOMETHING
IMPORTANT THERE.
IMPORTANT THERE. I CALLED FOR IT IMMEDIATELY
AFTER.
AFTER. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES
IN THE COUNTRY TO DO THAT.
THERE’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DID
WE GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE
NEEDED?
NEEDED? DID WE ACT ON IT?
I DID MY BEST.
I THINK ALL DECISION-MAKERS ARE
DOING THEIR BEST.
THIS ISN’T THE ISSUE NOW.
THE ISSUE IS WE’RE ABOUT TO GO
INTO THE HARD PART, AND THIS IS
WHERE WE REALLY HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES.
THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY, WILLIE,
AND I’VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION
WITH OUR HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP.
THEY CAN PROJECT, RIGHT NOW, THE
NUMBER OF CASES THAT WE’RE
EXPECTING NEXT WEEK.
THEY COULD PROJECT, RIGHT NOW,
HOW MANY VENTILATORS WE NEED,
HOW MANY DOCTORS, HOW MANY
NURSES.
NURSES. AND WE KNOW WE DON’T HAVE ALL OF
THAT FOR NEXT WEEK, DESPITE
CONSTANT PLEAS TO WASHINGTON.
EVERYONE KNOWS WE’RE THE
EPICENTER.
EPICENTER. QUARTER OF THE CASES IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
ENTIRE COUNTRY. SO, WILLIE, I’M OBSESSED.
I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE
PRESIDENT YESTERDAY AND ALL THE
TOP LEADERSHIP OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION. I’M OBSESSED WITH GETTING US
THROUGH NEXT WEEK AND SAVING
EVERY LIFE, EVERY LIFE WE CAN
SAVE.
SAVE. AND I WANT OUR NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT TO SEE IT THAT WAY.
TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE
LIVES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL
BE ALIVE AND WILL LIVE FULL
LIVES IF WE ACT NOW.
IF WE DON’T, FIRST, IT WILL BE
HUNDREDS, WILLIE, THEN IT’LL BE
THOUSANDS WHO WILL LOSE.
AMERICANS WILL LOSE WHO DID NOT
NEED TO DIE.
THAT’S HOW URGENT IT IS.
THAT’S WHERE ALL OUR FOCUS
SHOULD BE RIGHT NOW AS A
NATIONAL.
NATIONAL. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, WHEN THIS
CRISIS IS OVER, AND THANK GOD WE
KNOW IT, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN
THIS IS OVER, THEN WE CAN FIGURE
OUT WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM
IT.
IT. BUT RIGHT NOW, HOW COULD WE NOT
BE ON A WAR FOOTING?
YOU CAN FEEL IT.
THE NATION IS NOT ON A WAR
FOOTING AND, YET, WE’RE FIGHTING
A WAR.
A WAR. >> WELL, LET’S TRY AND MESSAGE
SOME FACTS TO OUR LEADERS HERE.
LET’S TALK, MAYOR de BLASIO, AS
TOUGH AS IT IS, ABOUT THE RATE
OF DEATHS IN NEW YORK CITY, AND
ACCOMMODATING THE BODIES.
THE GOVERNMENT PUT IN AN ORDER
FOR 100,000 BODY BAGS.
WHAT IS THE RATE OF DEATH RIGHT
NOW IN NEW YORK CITY?
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IT TO BE NEXT
WEEK?
WEEK? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
AND ARE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE
THAT?
THAT? >> MIKA, I THINK IT IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR THE
TRUTH.
TRUTH. YOU HAVE DOCTORS, NURSES,
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS,
EMTs, PARAMEDICS, ALL DOING
THEIR JOB IN A HEROIC FASHION.
THEY ARE FIGHTING TO SAVE EVERY
LIFE.
LIFE. I HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN THEM.
WHAT I DON’T HAVE FAITH IN IS
THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE
EQUIPMENT THEY NEED, CERTAINLY,
ESPECIALLY THE VENTILATORS, AND
THEY’LL HAVE THE REINFORCEMENTS
THEY NEED.
THEY NEED. HERE’S THE PROBLEM, SO MANY OF
OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND
FIRST RESPOND E THEY’VE GOTTEN
SICK THEMSELVES.
SICK THEMSELVES. MOST OF THEM COME BACK AFTER
SEVEN DAYS, TEN DAYS.
BUT WE’VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE,
WE’RE NOT EVEN -- WE DON’T HAVE
OUR FULL COMPLEMENT WE’D
NORMALLY HAVE OF THESE CRUCIAL,
CRUCIAL, THESE LIFE-SAVING FOLKS
BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM GOT SICK
THEMSELVES.
THEMSELVES. ON TOP OF THAT, THE DEMAND KEEPS
SURGING.
SURGING. THAT’S WHY WE NEED THOSE
REINFORCEMENTS.
REINFORCEMENTS. NOW, MIKA, AGAIN, I SAY TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
I SAY TO THE PENTAGON OVER A
WEEK AGO, 1,000 NURSES, 150
DOCTORS, 300 RESPIRATORY
THERAPISTS, FOR THE NATION’S
LARGEST CITY.
LARGEST CITY. 8.6 MILLION PEOPLE.
YOU’D THINK IN A COUNTRY THIS
BIG, THIS STRONG, THAT WOULD BE
AN EASY REQUEST TO FILL.
I’M STILL WAITING.
SO THOSE REINFORCEMENTS HAVE TO
COME OR OUR HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS WILL JUST BE
SWAMPED.
SWAMPED. 1,500 DEATHS ALREADY, AND WE
HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN TO THE HARD
PART OF THIS.
>> MAYOR BILL de BLASIO, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
RE