A matter of life or death: Hoboken critically low on medical supplies

Hoboken’s mayor is putting out a plea to the federal government for assistance after saying that the city is critically low on medical supplies.

News 12 Staff

Mar 27, 2020, 2:11 AM

Updated 1,502 days ago

Share:

Hoboken’s mayor is putting out a plea to the federal government for assistance after saying that the city is critically low on medical supplies.
Mayor Ravi Bhalla says that Hoboken University Medical Center estimates that it only has six more days’ worth of personal protective and overall emergency medical equipment. This comes as there are 30 patients in isolation.
undefined
“I had four [patients on] ventilators [Wednesday] morning. By the end of the day, we had 10 [on] ventilators in our ICU. Patients are getting sicker, the ages vary and we really need to manage the criticality,” says Hoboken University Medical Center chief hospital executive Ann Logan.
Photos: The Impact of Coronavirus Around the World
undefined

Bhalla says that even if the $2 trillion federal stimulus package gets executive approval, he is unsure if that money will reach Hoboken within the next six days.
Carepoint Health, which runs the Hoboken hospital, says it needs 10,000 surgical masks, 5,000 face shields, 2,800 N95 masks, 5,000 gowns and 13 ventilators for its most critical patients.
“Getting to the point where we have to decide who gets a ventilator and who does not is unthinkable and unacceptable,” says Dr. Melissa Henriquez. “We know it’s coming and we have to prepare and we need more ventilators.”
“Can we find 13 ventilators in this country to avoid having to make life decisions is the question that we’re facing here,” Bhalla says.
The hospital reports that five of its health care workers are out of work and in quarantine. There will also be a need for more nurses due to an expected surge in patients.


More from News 12
1:35
Child struck by vehicle in Spring Valley, 5th incident in 2024

Child struck by vehicle in Spring Valley, 5th incident in 2024

1:50
Sunny skies, comfortable conditions today before rain returns Wednesday

Sunny skies, comfortable conditions today before rain returns Wednesday

0:39
 ‘Melanie’s Law’ passes state Senate, heads for final approval

‘Melanie’s Law’ passes state Senate, heads for final approval

0:29
Attorney General James sues local clinics for abortion-reversal claims

Attorney General James sues local clinics for abortion-reversal claims

0:20
East Ramapo parents rally for school reform

East Ramapo parents rally for school reform

0:50
Headlines: Brewster police mourn death of officer, Newburgh man sentenced for rape, Westchester man arrested for larceny

Headlines: Brewster police mourn death of officer, Newburgh man sentenced for rape, Westchester man arrested for larceny

0:29
Dutchess County Sheriff's Office rescues 90 cats living in disarray

Dutchess County Sheriff's Office rescues 90 cats living in disarray

1:42
24-year-old double organ transplant recipient hosts blood drive in Pomona

24-year-old double organ transplant recipient hosts blood drive in Pomona

1:36
‘Very best’ of PD: City of Newburgh promotes longtime lieutenant to chief

‘Very best’ of PD: City of Newburgh promotes longtime lieutenant to chief

1:49
SUNY Purchase faculty and students want disciplinary action against protesters dropped

SUNY Purchase faculty and students want disciplinary action against protesters dropped

0:50
Orange County cracks down on drivers who illegally pass school buses with cameras

Orange County cracks down on drivers who illegally pass school buses with cameras

1:56
Ceremony held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in White Plains

Ceremony held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in White Plains

1:01
Tuckahoe Village Board hears Ward House appeal

Tuckahoe Village Board hears Ward House appeal

0:23
State police work to ID body that washed ashore in Poughkeepsie

State police work to ID body that washed ashore in Poughkeepsie

0:35
Rockland DA: 23-year-old man indicted in New City driveway stabbing

Rockland DA: 23-year-old man indicted in New City driveway stabbing

1:11
SUNY Purchase creates ‘protest zone’ following encampment break up by police

SUNY Purchase creates ‘protest zone’ following encampment break up by police

0:45
Hudson River Clean Up Day celebrates 13th year

Hudson River Clean Up Day celebrates 13th year

1:53
FEMA awards Babbitt Court with grant to raise homes to reduce flooding

FEMA awards Babbitt Court with grant to raise homes to reduce flooding

1:20
Headlines: Putnam Valley man dies in excavating accident, 2 injured in Newburgh fire, man charged with larceny in Liberty

Headlines: Putnam Valley man dies in excavating accident, 2 injured in Newburgh fire, man charged with larceny in Liberty

2:15
Turn To Tara explores how to stay safe from ‘cyber kidnapping’ scams

Turn To Tara explores how to stay safe from ‘cyber kidnapping’ scams