The Voice of the West Village WestView News VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4 APRIL 2020 $1.00 The Village Is Closed By George Capsis said to myself, “If this goes on for months “Dear George, this will be a very, very, different New York Unfortunately, given the coronavirus con- indeed.” And then I thought, “Wait George, cerns, tonight's dress rehearsal has been you have a newspaper so even if nobody can cancelled. go to a local meeting they can, if you write Please confirm that you’ve received this! about it, read about the issues in WestView.” We’re so sorry to deliver such bad news and So, yes, it certainly looks like for many will be in touch as we learn more about the months we will avoid each other’s virus-sus- re-opening of the show. pected company and look to WestView to tell Thank you! Alyssa” us what is happening in the West Village. Ah, yes, I can see a need for a newspa- This came just hours before Friday the per now; but how to finance this Benjamin 13th, when New York closed down for pos- Franklin anachronism? We have an ever- sibly six months! The note was from Sarah diminishing number of community news- Jessica Parker’s secretary, just two hours be- papers left in New York and I can certainly fore the dress rehearsal of their opening of attest to the fact that they are not profitable Plaza Suite that very night. businesses, not even break-even businesses. The next morning my daughter Athena Like PBS, they need subscriptions and do- called from San Diego, surprised and be- nations from their readers. In recent years mused at seeing on TV that New York was, newspapers have lost $35 billion in ads for the very first time, shutting down— sales and 50 percent of their staffs. Broadway and the Met closed! My guess is, with luck, just a few New York One after another, emails cancel- LIVING A NIGHTMARE: West Villagers, now learning of friends that have died of the sinister community papers will survive, and I am still ling meeting after meeting came in until I Coronavirus, desert the once tourist-thronged Bleecker Street. Photo by Maggie Berkvist. trying to figure out how to do that with ours. COVID-19—The Battle in Our Backyard By Deborah Rizzi with THE NEIGHBORHOOD orful messages in front of the Emergency Alex Hellinger Room to help uplift the spirits of the staff: We have a “Many individuals and businesses in • We love you According to Alex Hellinger, the battle is Greenwich Village have reached out to • Our heroes common enemy being fought by health care professionals— Lenox Health Greenwich Village to ask if • NYC loves you with support and TLC provided by local they can help,” Hellinger continued. “We “This simple gesture of kindness dur- businesses, schools and Greenwich Village are truly humbled by this outpouring of ing a challenging time means so much “and we will residents. “The Novel Coronavirus or CO- generosity” Here are just few examples of to everyone that is working on the front VID-19 and the resulting change that has this kindness: lines. Our incredible LHGV team mem- defeat it taken place to most of our lives is unlike • The New School and others have do- bers were coming out to read this mes- anything many of us have ever experienced,” nated PPE. sage and then going back in to treat Alex Hellinger, Executive Director, he said. “While this is devastating in many • The West Side Market and others patients with smiles on their faces, even Lenox Health Greenwich Village ways, it has also brought us together as a have donated food, coffee and snacks. though their smiles were covered by (A division of Northwell Health) community and a country. We have a com- He noted another heart-warming show PPE,” Hellinger said. mon enemy and we will defeat it.” of support by residents who painted col- continued on page 2 ” Isolation vs. quarantine Current as of March 16, 2020 Understanding the difference w305478a_COVID-19_13Mar2020 w0305478l_COVID-19_16Mar2020 Resource Guide Expert Advice Modern Love Our COVID-19 Village Northwell Health offers a A great American love Resource Guide provides visual guide to managing story offers inspiration a list of open services and COVID-19. and hope. businesses. Isolation Quarantine SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 18 SEE PAGE 35 For people who are sick, isolation: For people who are not sick, but • Separates people infected with may have been exposed, quarantine: diseases like COVID-19 from • Restricts movement of people to those who are not monitor symptoms for early detection • Restricts movement of sick people • Prevents the spread of infection to avoid spread of the illness or contamination • Keeps people out of the public • Should be communicated with until the risk of transmission to clear guidelines from the authorities others is low Sources: CDC, What To Do If You Are Sick and WHO, Considerations for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 2 WestView News April 2020 www.westviewnews.org Northwell continued from page 1 WestView “During times of crisis, you often see the Published by WestView, Inc. very best in people, and we are certainly by and for the residents of the seeing that here. Our LHGV family, who West Village. come in every day to make sure our patients receive the very best care, are dedicated, Publisher compassionate and mission driven. And Executive Editor George Capsis the community that we serve has shown incredible generosity and gratitude. We are Art Director Kim Plosia united and we are all standing in solidarity to beat COVID-19 together.” Advertising Manager and Designer Stephanie Phelan HOSPITAL SUPPLIES Traffic Manager Since January, Northwell has purchased Liza Whiting more than $5 million of lab equipment, Photo Editor supplies, masks, gloves, goggles, gowns Darielle Smolian and other personal protective equipment. Photographers It has been able to increase ventilators in Maggie Berkvist its network by 50%. While they currently Chris Manis have an adequate supply of ventilators and Associate Editors other items, they continue to order more to Justin Matthews, Anne Olshansky prepare for a surge. Comptroller Jolanta Meckauskaite WOW! One of our wonderful community members took time to spray paint these uplift- Architecture Editor We are New Yorkers. ing messages. It truly warmed my heart and certainly lifted my spirits and the spirits of our Brian Pape LHGV team. This simple gesture of thoughtfulness and kindness during a challenging time Fashion Editor We are here for each other means so much to everyone that is working on the front lines. During times of crisis, you Karen Rempel often see the very best in people, and we are certainly seeing that here. —Alex Hellinger Film and Media Editor and we will get through Jim Fouratt HOSPITAL PROCEDURES proximately 2,000 COVID-19 tests daily. Food Editor this together. We will be In accordance with the New York State De- David Porat partment of Health, visitation is temporarily Even as testing capacity increases, people stronger on the other side. suspended. The safety of patients, staff and are screened judiciously to focus on those Music and Eldercare Editor most at risk for severe COVID-19 infec- Hannah Reimann visitors is of paramount importance. Strong Stay strong. All of us here clinical and operational protocols have been tion and who require more-immediate and Regular Contributors implemented that are designed to quickly intensive medical attention. J. Taylor Basker, Barry Benepe, at Lenox Health Greenwich identify potential COVID-19 patients as On March 20, Northwell’s research arm Caroline Benveniste, Charles Caruso, —the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Re- Jim Fouratt, John Gilman, they enter facilities, isolate them appropri- Mark. M. Green, Robert Heide, Village are here for you and ately and prevent transmission of infections. search—began enrolling COVID-19 pa- Thomas Lamia, Keith Michael, The emergency operations center is tients in clinical trials via a collaboration Michael D. Minichiello, Penny Mintz, with biopharmaceutical companies Gilead Brian J. Pape, Joy Pape, Bruce Poli, we are proud to be a member staffed 24/7. Northwell is in constant con- Alec Pruchnicki, Christina Raccuia, tact with all hospitals and other Northwell Sciences, Regeneron and Sanofi. Hannah Reimann, Karen Rempel, Catherine of this amazing community! facilities. Operating in this heightened state Revland, Martica Sawin, Donna Schaper, MORE INFORMATION Arthur Z. Schwartz, Stanley Wlodyka of readiness allows quick mobilization of system-wide resources if the need arises. For all of the most updated information We endeavor to publish all letters received, LHGV BEDS on the Coronavirus please visit the Corona including those with which we disagree. There are 31 hospital beds in Lenox Health TESTING AND TRIALS Virus Digital Resource Center at: https:// The opinions put forth by contributors to WestView do not necessarily reflect the Greenwich Village that have been prepared The Northwell Lab is able to process ap- www.northwell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19 views of the publisher or editor. to assist other hospitals as needed during WestView welcomes your correspondence, this COVID-19 crisis. This particular unit comments, and corrections: will not be for critically ill patients. www.westviewnews.org Northwell and its hospitals have plans in Contact Us place to handle a surge in patient volume. (212) 924-5718 This includes a sophisticated emergency [email protected] response plan in place that has effectively managed previous infectious disease out- breaks, including the Anthrax response in 2001, SARS in 2003, swine flu in 2009 and Ebola in 2014. STATE COORDINATION Northwell Health has worked work with Governor Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health to establish and sup- port satellite centers for testing people for COVID-19.