Joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose:
 
"The situation surrounding Coronavirus is constantly evolving. What is clear is that the only way to protect the community from further spread is to stay home. Another thing that has become abundantly clear is that there is a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is essential for healthcare workers to protect themselves so that they can continue to care for patients.
 
“With this in mind, in the spirit of community, we are asking any dentists or physicians who may be closing their offices during this time to donate their PPE so that we can continue to have our healthcare professionals safely care for ill patients."
 
Physician/dental offices interested in donating should visit www.statenislandusa.com/PPE and fill out the intake form. A staff member from Borough Hall will be in touch shortly to arrange pick up of your donations.

Joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose in response to Mayor de Blasio’s announcement of a temporary reduction of Staten Island Ferry service, from four boats during rush hour to three in response to a 70% decrease in ridership due to the COVID-19 situation:
 
“Staten Island will do its part to be part of the solution, and to that end we will reluctantly understand these service reductions to the Staten Island Ferry during this crisis. But let us be very clear: we will never allow this, or any other administration, to undercut then Councilman Oddo's Local Law, which mandated half-hour service 24/7/365.
 
“Make no mistake, we are team players today and will be during this crisis, but we just do not trust the Department of Transportation. We know the history of this issue. They NEVER wanted to implement the second phase of the bill, which was originally enacted thanks to the work of former Council Speaker Chris Quinn, but was to be implemented by the de Blasio Administration.
 
“The transportation agency did not want to increase transportation options! In the end, it was the Mayor who overruled his own agency!  So forgive us for being vigilant, and for not trusting anyone or anything but our own perseverance.
 
“And let us say this: if any financial crisis carries on past the end of our terms, our successors will be just as rabid on the issue of transit equity as we are.”

Joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose: “Common ground, common effort. This is how we, as your Staten Island representatives, have operated in response to this crisis, and now we are calling on our constituents to do the same. If you are, or know someone who is, willing to share their time and expertise to fight this crisis your service will be deeply appreciated. We thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership through this crisis, and for his work to expand testing in New York City.”
 
In response to the growing number of COVID-19 case numbers, Governor Andrew Cuomo has authorized a drive-through testing facility to open on Staten Island, the first facility of its kind in New York City. The facility will open tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, 2020. At this time, Borough President James Oddo and the Staten Island delegation are working closely with the Office of the Governor and Northwell Health to facilitate swab testing for COVID-19 to those who meet the necessary criteria. The testing is open to New York City Residents by appointment only from 11am to 7 pm tomorrow and from 7 am to 7 pm beginning Friday at South Beach Psych Center (777 Seaview Avenue).
 
Anyone who feels they are at risk should contact the NYS DOH Hotline at 888-364-3065 to determine if and how to be tested. If it is determined an individual needs to be tested, they will receive notice directly from NYS DOH. An appointment must be made in order to receive a test. Individuals who show up without an appointment will be turned away.
 
The State and Northwell Health are seeking the help of qualified retired health professionals—including Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses and Physicians—to volunteer to staff the mobile testing unit. If you are a retired health professional and looking to help with the crisis at hand, please consider volunteering. Shifts will be from 7 am to 1 pm and 1 pm to 7 pm.
 
"This testing site is going to be a huge sigh of relief for Staten Islanders with concerns of COVID-19. We thank Governor Cuomo and Staten Island’s elected officials who have once again stepped up for the borough when it needed it most," said Brahim Ardolic, MD, Executive Director of Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health. "Staten Island University Hospital is happy to assist in this effort wherever we can. So far, over 120 medical professionals from the hospital have volunteered to help staff the testing site.”
 
Potential volunteers should fill out the following online form to be considered for a volunteer position: https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/retired-health-professional. Volunteers will be prompted to enter their Name, Address, Phone number, New York State Certification Number, Information on last role, and Availability.
 
According to NYS DOH, drive-through mobile testing facilities help keep people who are sick or at risk of having contracted coronavirus out of healthcare facilities where they could infect other people. To that end, the guidance for receiving a COVID-19 test is unchanged from the guidance provided at any other medical facility.
​
Until New York State is at full capacity for testing, the Department of Health has issued guidance to ensure that New York State prioritizes the resources to meet the most urgent public health need. Testing for COVID-19 shall be authorized by a health care provider when:

• An individual has come within proximate contact (same classroom, office, or gatherings) of another person known to be positive; or
• An individual has traveled to a country that the CDC has issued a Level 2 or Level 3 Travel Health Notice, and shows symptoms of illness; or
• An individual is quarantined (mandatory or precautionary) and has shown symptoms of COVID-19 illness; or
• An individual is symptomatic and has not tested positive for any other infection; or
• Other cases where the facts and circumstances warrant as determined by the treating clinician in consultation with state and local department of health officials.

 
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the entire Staten Island delegation made an announcement to encourage Staten Islanders to re-evaluate their social distancing behaviors, including to: Stay home as much as possible; keep 6 feet of distance from others in public; and minimize in-person social contact in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
 

The Staten Island Delegation has one clear directive for Staten Islanders in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19: Stay Home.
 
“By now, we're all very much aware of the Coronavirus, but what's not all that clear is what you need to do. It is simple: STAY HOME. Healthy or sick, all New Yorkers need to stay home as much as possible. Stay home and check in with your friends and family members who may need your help via phone,” noted in a joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose.
 
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the entire Staten Island delegation to made an announcement to encourage Staten Islanders to re-evaluate their social distancing behaviors, including to: Stay home as much as possible; keep 6 feet of distance from others in public; and minimize in-person social contact.
 
Any New Yorkers who feel they are getting sick should abide by the following advice from NYC and NYS DOH:
 
If you are sick, rest and monitor your symptoms for 24-48 hours. If they worsen, call your primary care doctor.
 
Do not go to the emergency room, an urgent-care center, or your doctor’s office if you are feeling sick. Call your doctor first so they can make arrangements for you to come in, if necessary.
 
If you do not have a primary care doctor or Health insurance, call the Health and Hospitals 24/7 help line where you will be connected to a doctor to assist: 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692).
 
Any general questions or concerns on coronavirus, call 311. New Yorkers are also encouraged to text “COVID” to 692-692 for automatic updates from NYC OEM on Coronavirus.

​Joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose:
 
“In addition to a running text thread to allow all Staten Island elected officials to communicate with each other simultaneously, and to collectively share information, we have established what will be a daily conference call to coordinate our efforts. Today’s call focused on securing the needs of our two hospital systems, attempting to unclog the flow of county specific information and data, expressing our ongoing bewilderment and concerns about schools not officially closing, and our strenuous belief that this next week is critical in terms of containment efforts. To that end we all agreed on the following:
 
“After reading the bleak predictions and emphatic counsel of medical and scientific experts across the country, after seeing other cities and nations imposing curfews or shutting businesses and gathering places, and after hearing widespread accounts of people willfully ignoring social distancing in establishments across the city, state and nation, we strongly encourage Staten Islanders to re-evaluate their social distancing behavior.
 
“We want to help keep our small businesses viable, but Islanders need to understand that they are not invulnerable and their behavior puts OTHER people at risk, including potentially the vulnerable populations in their own homes and within their own families.
 
“As so many have advocated: Stay home as much as possible; keep 6 feet of distance from others in public; and minimize in-person social contact. Please, for everyone’s sake, use common sense. This upcoming week is critically important in terms of attempting to contain this virus. Those who can should just stay home.”

Joint statement by Borough President Oddo, Congressman Max Rose, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Senator Diane Savino, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Cusick, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Mike Reilly, Assemblyman Charles Fall, Councilman Steven Matteo, Councilman Joe Borelli, and Councilwoman Debi Rose:
 
“Following a meeting today at Borough Hall, we are calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to close New York City Public Schools, grades 3-K through 12, for one week to allow for all school buildings to be completely sanitized and to allow for further assessment of the COVID-19 situation, to be reassessed at the end of that week. Essential to this plan is developing a program to allow for children who need shelter and food to be cared for during this time.
 
“In addition, we are reiterating our position on closing Senior Centers throughout the City to safeguard older adults who are in the high-risk category, pending an appropriate course of action to ensure safety and nutrition for all seniors in the program.”

​The Vietnam Veterans Breakfast, scheduled for March 30, will be postponed.
 
Borough President James Oddo and District Attorney Michael McMahon, who host the annual event, have decided to postpone the breakfast to err on the side of caution, concerned for the health of Veterans who would attend. The breakfast will be rescheduled for a later date.
 
With older adults at high risk for coronavirus and the CDC recommending that those at high risk stay at home as much as possible and avoid congregate settings, the Borough President and District Attorney have decided to postpone the breakfast  to another time.
 
"The goal of our Welcome Home breakfast is to recognize Veterans who served bravely in the Vietnam War for their heroism, sacrifice and service to our country," noted Borough President Oddo. "While we are disappointed to have to postpone, it is much more important for our friends to stay healthy. We will hold the breakfast at another time when we can show our gratitude.”
 
“The Welcome Home Breakfast means a great deal to not just myself and the Borough President, but to the hundreds of Veterans who attend each year. In keeping with the spirit of the event, that is, giving a long overdue “thank you” to all Staten Islanders who served in Vietnam, we are putting the health and safety of our Veterans above all else. I look forward to getting this event back on the calendar in the near future,” said District Attorney McMahon.
 
Veterans who have already responded to the breakfast will be notified of the postponement and a new invitation will be disseminated when another date has been chosen for the event. If there are any questions, please contact Diane Marciuliano at 718-816-2246.