New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday signed an executive order saying the state can take ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) from hospitals and medical institutions and redistribute the items to places that are in dire need.
The governor said at his daily press conference that the National Guard will transport the ventilators, masks and other equipment to hard-hit parts of the state like New York City.
Cuomo, who warned on Thursday that the state’s stockpile of ventilators would run out in the next six days, said there are hospitals in the state that have several hundred ventilators and excess protective gear but are not yet dealing with high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
“We do not have enough ventilators. Period. I am signing an Executive Order allowing the state to take ventilators and redistribute to hospitals in need,” Cuomo tweeted on Friday.
Read more at The Hill.
{Matzav.com}
It is VERY, VERY important to monitor the oxygen levels of Corona patients on a regular basis. This can be done by a medical professional, Hatzala, or by using a small machine called a pulse-ox which can be borrowed from Bikur Cholim or purchased at a pharmacy etc. It is IMPERATIVE to catch and address low oxygen levels as early as possible and NOT wait until the situation becomes critical ch’v. This applies EVEN if the patient is not showing any signs of difficulty breathing. (If caught early enough, the patient often can be treated at home with an oxygen machine while medications help the lungs heal.) May we hear only bsuros tovos.
Indeed it is a good idea to get a pulsioximeter (aka saturimeter) and monitor yourself or your relative. Problem is, what to do when readings are very alarming? One can indeed try an oxygen mask or non invasive cannula flow, taking the risk that in many cases it does not work and patient proceeds to multi organ failure (which as far as I know, no hospital treat at this time). If you do oxygen at home, everyone around needs very good protection because the virus will be aerosolized, and notice that men with beards need PAPR not KN95 or KN98 masks which can’t be fit properly, also be aware it requires a lot of 02 (arrange adequate supply). Or, one can take the chance and go to hospital, that is a huge risk we already know about.