TESTIMONY
Lucky Tran on the Importance of Continuing Funding for COVID Prevention and Public Health Measures in New York City
2:28:44
·
153 sec
Lucky Tran urges the New York City Council to continue funding and implementing COVID-19 prevention efforts due to the ongoing severity of the pandemic.
- Tran emphasizes that despite reductions, COVID-19 remains a significant threat with high levels of deaths and chronic illnesses.
- The scientist calls for mandatory mask requirements in healthcare settings and better access to high-quality N95 masks for staff and visitors to prevent health risks.
- Tran advocates for funding programs that provide New Yorkers with free access to high-quality masks, tests, and other COVID-19 prevention tools.
- He supports Bill INT332, proposed by chairperson Narcisse, to distribute free masks, PPE, and rapid tests through the mail, highlighting the critical role of legislative action in fighting the pandemic.
Lucky Tran
2:28:44
Good afternoon, everyone.
2:28:45
My name is doctor Lucky Tran, and I am a scientist in public health communicator who works at Columbia, and I'm also a member of COVID advocacy in New York.
2:28:53
I'm testifying today to urge the city to continue funding and implementing COVID prevention efforts.
2:28:58
I am concerned about the prospect of COVID budgets being cut because as the World Health Organization reminds us, we are still in a pandemic.
2:29:06
The data tells us this 2, this winter surge is actually the 2nd largest of the pandemic according to wastewater levels, and we are still seeing high levels of death and chronic illness caused by COVID.
2:29:17
One of the most important public health problems that isn't being meaningfully addressed is that people who are most vulnerable or high risk have to delay medical care because of the lack of COVID protections.
2:29:28
This to me as someone who works in health care is absolutely unacceptable.
2:29:33
You can do something too tangible to address this crisis.
2:29:36
You can require masks in healthcare settings.
2:29:39
I appreciate that h and h having a master requirement in place for a few weeks.
2:29:44
However, this came weeks too late, and it's already been lifted despite COVID level still being still high.
2:29:50
No one should have to risk getting sick in order to access health care.
2:29:54
You can also do more to make sure that staff and patients and visitors have asked as to N95 and high quality masks in health care settings.
2:30:01
In practice too often, I've experienced myself, and I heard the same from others.
2:30:05
That many people including staff have trouble accessing high quality mouse when in health care settings.
2:30:10
I really think we can do better on this.
2:30:12
You should also be providing funding to help all New Yorkers access high quality mass tests and other COVID prevention tools for free.
2:30:19
Many want to take action to protect themselves in their communities, but they can't afford the tools needed to do so.
2:30:24
The federal programs for masks and tests have ended and went sufficient in the first place.
2:30:29
The city already spends money to provide important health tools like condoms, hygiene products, and harm reduction items.
2:30:34
COVID is still around and causing harm said the city should continue to spend money on COVID prevention tools too.
2:30:40
On this, thank you to chairperson Nazis for introducing Bill INT332, which would provide free mass other PPE and rapid tests to your New Yorkers through the mail.
2:30:50
I urge the New York City Council to pass it.
2:30:53
Your actions right now will be recorded in history.
2:30:56
You can choose to acknowledge that we are still in a pandemic and COVID is still around and causing harm, or you can deny things and make things worse.
2:31:03
You all have the ability to take actions that make an incredible that could make an incredible difference to the lives of many New Yorkers, particularly the most marginalized I urge you all to go down in history for the right reasons.
2:31:16
Thank you for your time.