4 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 16, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
сoronavirus
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital has treated and discharged more than 120 COVID-19 patients
JetBlue, United Airlines providing free
fl ights to NYC for medical volunteers
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Long Island City-based JetBlue and
United Airlines are off ering free roundtrip
fl ights for medical volunteers traveling
to New York City to join the front line
in the battle against COVID-19.
As the city faces an unprecedented
strain on its healthcare system, Mayor Bill
de Blasio put out the call for healthcare
professionals from around the country
to join the fi ght and called on the federal
government to institute an essential draft
of all private medical personnel.
“Our healthcare workers are heroes, and
right now they need reinforcements to
save as many lives as they can,” de Blasio
said. “I am calling on all medical professionals
from across the country to come
to New York City and help us win this
fi ght. Th is invaluable partnership with
JetBlue and United Airlines will ensure we
can provide transportation to these fearless
warriors at no additional cost.”
Th e Mayor’s Fund to Advance New
York City and New York City Emergency
Management will work closely with
JetBlue, United Airlines and other carriers
to coordinate travel for medical professionals
who are selected to provide
their services in the city’s time of need.
“As New York’s hometown airline, we
are honored to be able to help right in our
own backyard. We are honored to provide
critical travel needs for medical professionals
and fi rst responders,” JetBlue
President and COO Joanna Geraghty
said. “Th e work of fi rst responders is tireless,
and the hours long. For those volunteering
to help in areas of need, the last
thing they need to worry about is how
they will get here to answer the call. We
applaud the healthcare workers who are
helping us get through this challenging
time and inspiring humanity along the
way.”
JetBlue and United Airlines have already
started transporting medical professionals
and the numbers will increase in the coming
weeks as medical professionals receive
their New York City assignments.
“We are profoundly grateful for the
extraordinarily talented and selfl ess individuals
who are working around the clock
and have an unwavering commitment
to support our communities and medical
providers at this time of exceptional
need,” said Jill Kaplan, president, New
York/New Jersey for United Airlines. “It
is our hope that providing air travel at no
cost will allow additional dedicated volunteers
and fi rst responders the ability to
reach the tri-state area that has been hit
hardest by COVID-19.”
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
Since St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
admitted Queens’ fi rst COVID-19
patient back in March, the hospital
staff has worked tirelessly to successfully
treat and discharge more
than 120 patients aff ected by the
virus.
According to hospital healthcare
workers, SJEH has made a number
adjustments
and investments
prov i d e
Labor Department to update
online unemployment application
due to high volume of responses
BY GRANT LANCASTER
To better handle the unprecedented
increase in applications for unemployment
insurance during the COVID-
19 pandemic, the state’s Department of
Labor plans to update the online system
to make it easier for New Yorkers
to apply.
Online applications were unavailable
from 5 to 7 p.m. Th ursday while the system
rebooted and applied the updates,
according to a April 9 press release. Th e
updates include beefi ng up the system
so that it can handle more applicants at
once; allowing users to save an application
in progress and resume later; support
for smartphones and tablets; and
streamlining some questions to make
them easier to understand.
Most applicants should be able to
complete their applications online, but
those who must submit additional information
will now be instructed to wait
for a department employee to call them,
to
instead of having to call the department.
New Yorkers who were told to call
the department under the old process
should now wait for department
employees to call them. Th e department
increased its call center staff from 400
to 1,000 to support the increased number
of claims, with plans to add 1,200
more staff ers.
“We know that your livelihood
depends on it, and we assure you that
you will get your benefi ts,” said Roberta
Reardon, NYS Department of Labor
Commissioner.
Since the start of the viral outbreak,
the unemployment fi ling system has had
an up to 16,000 percent increase in
phone calls during peak weeks and up to
1,600 percent more web traffi c, according
to the release.
Before the pandemic, the department’s
online systems were supported by four
web servers, but they have increased
the number to 60 servers to handle the
increased demand.
patients with elevated care, including purchasing
new beds and equipment and
increasing telehealth measures.
“We work hard to ensure that we are
as prepared as possible to treat each
COVID-19 patient, and have made significant
investments to see that our patients
achieve positive health,” said SJEH Chief
Medical Offi ce Dr. Donald Morrish.
“When we are able to successfully discharge
a person, it brings us great joy, and
also shows that there are people who have
overcome COVID-19.”
Data released by the city’s Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene found
that the Rockaways communities are
among the hardest hit by the virus.
Since March, SJEH has increased
its beds from 257 to 326, purchased
additional beds and stretchers and
converted existing beds into intensive
care units (ICU). Th e hospital
has also hired more staff and
transformed its fi ft h fl oor outpatient
specialty services practice to an inpatient
unit.
Additionally, the hospital has created
several negative pressure rooms on the
premises, which uses a special ventilation
system to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases.
“Our investments are helping people
heal during this pandemic, and I want
to see more positive outcomes. We will
spare no expense,” said hospital Chief
Executive Offi ce Jerry Walsh. “And, I have
the utmost respect for our doctors, nurses
and entire staff who come to work each
day to help those who need it most.”
Other hospital investments include the
purchase of much-needed personal protective
equipment (PPE), ventilators and
other essential equipment and the implementation
of a new telehealth/virtual visits
system. Th e system, which SJEH rolled
out in March, allows patients to have their
doctor appointments via computer, phone
or tablet.
REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
Photo via Flickr
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