New York City On The Brink Of Complete Chaos; Lack Of Test Kits Leads To Bigger Issues

The rising number of COVID-19 cases in New York City coupled with dwindling resources has piqued the panic among medicos across the United States.

The reality is, NYC is running out of COVID-19 testing kits. This has pushed healthcare workers with little option but to restrict testing to only the critically ill. The information was disseminated in the form of a health alert: “As the swab supply continues to decline, there is a real possibility hospital will completely run out. At this time, providers are reminded to test hospitalized patients in order to preserve resources that are needed to diagnose and appropriately manage patients with more severe illness.”

The memo came amid pleas and repeated requests to the federal government by healthcare workers—to provide a large volume of testing kits in a bid to tend to the rising cases and move towards a containment phase while mitigating the effects of the novel virus’s outbreak. The city's health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot enthused that the scenario looks pretty grim—and the city might experience a catastrophe of sorts if adequate assistance isn’t received at this point in time. What’s more, the lack of testing capability and equipment has compelled officials to overlook the screening of medical staff who might be passing on infections as well.

The mayor of Carmel, Indiana, disclosed last Thursday that a donation of 50,000 test kits would be made to New York City. Apex Medical, a lab that rustled up an impressive number of 12,000 test kits per day, is located in Carmel.

“I have been assured by our labs and health care facilities locally that making this donation will not jeopardize the health and safety of our front-line workers or our community,” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard to a media outlet.

As per the current statistics, New York State's coronavirus death toll crossed the 10,000 mark. Hospitals in the city, however, continue to record over 2,000 new cases daily. The state recorded 671 new deaths on Sunday.

The governor also divulged that the state's slow progress will continue for as long as the stay-at-home restrictions are followed.