STORY UPDATE:
Sen. Carlucci’s office gave RCBJ the wrong hotel name for this story. The correct one is Nyack Motor Lodge in West Nyack
Coronavirus Creating Demand For Safe Spaces For Those On The Front Line
By Tina Traster
The owner of Tappan Zee Lodge 79 in Spring Valley is the first in Rockland County to step up and offer free lodging to healthcare workers on the frontline battling the coronavirus.
The motel owner has offered up to 100 rooms for medical personnel and an overflow of non-critical patients. The offer is in response to a call put out by Sen. David Carlucci (C-Rockland/Westchester) who is asking hotels and motels in Rockland and Westchester counties to participate in the effort to ease the burden for healthcare and EMS workers.
“Our health care and EMS workers are heroes, and they are going home in fear,” said Senator David Carlucci. “They are having to isolate themselves from loved ones because they are nervous to expose family members to COVID-19 or become infected. Let’s help our health care and EMS workers feel safe and lessen their anxiety. They have enough to deal with right now. If area businesses are willing to offer free rooms, then we will connect them with hospitals in the area.”
More than 81,000 people in the U.S have tested positive for the coronavirus. “There are 1,340 reported positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Rockland, an increase of 271 cases in one day. Seven people have died from the illness here.
U.S. deaths have been concentrated in New York, rising by 100 over the last 24 hours. On Thursday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said the number of patients hospitalized in New York has risen by 40 percent from the previous 24 hours, the sharpest jump in days.
More than 200 medical workers from an Army field hospital are on their way to New York.
Hospitals in the New York metro region, including Rockland and Westchester counties, are facing harrowing increases in coronavirus cases. Sick and fearful patients are flooding hospitals across the region. Workers at several hospitals have been called to work in emergency wards. Hospitals are looking for volunteers to step in to deal with the crisis.
Carlucci has said his office will act as a go-between for hotels/motels and the five area hospitals: Good Samaritan, Nyack Montefiore, Westchester Medical, Phelps Memorial and White Plains Hospital.
Hotels and motels interested in offering free accommodation who can reach Carlucci’s office at (845) 623-3627 or (914) 941-2054 between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or email the Senator directly at carlucci@nysenate.gov.
“We are hopeful with this call to action that local hotels and motels will step up because that’s what New Yorker’s do in times of need,” said Carlucci.