Thread by @bradlander

Doctors in NYC's hospitals, jails & shelters are calling on @NYCMayorsOffice to take far more aggressive action re #COVID19.

In the spirit of balancing the urgent need to slow the spread & support communities, @RitchieTorres & I are sharing their call:

medium.com/@bradlander/do…

As they put it, actions taken now to encourage & facilitate "enforced solidarity" will help mitigate the impact of the virus on vulnerable populations and our health system.

Their recommendations include:

-suspend classes and turn schools into community crisis centers
-stop low-level arrests
-order release for anyone in pretrial detention over 60
-postpone criminal court proceedings for those not incarcerated
-ensure medical personnel have adequate personal protective equipment.

-open a virus hotline for residents to be able to call a nurse and get a home visit if needed for quarantined people with moderate symptoms rather than bring people into the ER
-ACS to halt non-emergency family court proceedings, guarantee tele-visitation for parents and children

-turn schools into centers for community aid: food pantry, crisis navigation, and eventually satellite testing sites once we have capacity to test widely
-paid sick leave
-moratorium on evictions
-aid for families and businesses

-Divert workers from other non-essential services to NORCs and public housing to check on quarantined elderly (remotely if possible)
-Increase staffing for the City’s mental health hotline to deal with increased anxiety exacerbated by isolation and uncertainty