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Mayor de Blasio Surges Staff, Support to City Nursing Homes

April 23, 2020

 City will double the number of clinical personnel in nursing homes and increase PPE shipments by 50% this week

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today announced that he will surge supplies and staff to nursing homes citywide this week, adding to the Administration’s existing efforts to support nursing homes fighting the COVID-19 crisis.

“Our city’s nursing homes are home to some of those most at risk for COVID-19,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “They need our support more than ever, which is why we are stepping in and sending more staff and support to assist those who protect and care for our most vulnerable.”

The City has continued to surge supplies and support to its nursing homes,  sending nearly ten million pieces of PPE in weekly distributions to all 169 nursing homes including N95s, surgical masks, gowns, eye protection, and gloves.

This week, the City will increase its weekly shipment by at least 50%, adding to the over 40,000 N95s, 800,00 surgical face masks 40,000 face shields, 1.5 million gloves and at least 105,000 gowns or coveralls that went to nursing homes across the city last week.

To meet urgent staffing needs in nursing homes across the city, the City has sent 210 clinical staff volunteers to 40 nursing homes citywide. The City will double this amount, bringing the total number of personnel to over 420.

In addition to providing PPE and clinical staff, the City has provided nursing homes with up-to-date guidance on isolation and testing procedures. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has continued to work with providers to implement this guidance and troubleshoot as necessary.

To ensure the needs of nursing homes are continually met for the duration of the crisis, the City has set up a task force to work with approximately half of all nursing homes to collect data on staffing, PPE, decedent management, and any other needs.

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