**Media Advisory for April 9** - Nurses at Westchester Medical Center demand more protective equipment to treat COVID-19 patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2020
Contact: Michael Hertz | michael.hertz@nysna.org | 917.232.3803

Nurses Call for More Ventilators at Westchester Medical Center

Frontline Workers are Fighting to Save Lives While Short-Staffed and Under-Protected

Valhalla, NY - Nurses at Westchester Medical Center will hold an urgent community speak out and press event in front of the hospital tomorrow. Nurses are demanding more ventilators, greater access to N95s and other critical PPE to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Westchester Medical Center is rationing PPE for healthcare workers that are taking care of COVID-19 patients. The hospital does not have enough negative pressure rooms or HEPA filters for the designated COVID area.

Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19 and need the safest equipment to treat patients, slow the spread of the virus, and protect themselves. Nurses are calling on the Trump administration and the federal government to unleash the Defense Production Act (DPA) to increase production of PPE, so healthcare workers can safely care for the communities they serve.

WHAT: Westchester Medical Centers Nurses Speak Out and Press Event

WHEN: TOMORROW, Thursday, April 9 at 10:00AM

WHERE: 101 Woods Road, Valhalla, NY, Directly across the main entrance of WMC

VISUALS: As nurses, we will be safe and practice social distancing during this event. All healthcare workers are invited, but not those over 60 with underlying health conditions, or who are pregnant. There will be creative signs, chants and participatory action.

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The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, please visit nysna.org.