Saturday marks five years since New York City announced citywide lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Elmhurst Hospital: The Epicenter of the Pandemic
One of the hardest-hit areas was Elmhurst, Queens. A moment of silence was held at a community vigil outside Elmhurst Hospital, which became one of the busiest hospitals in the country during the crisis.
“The hospital behind us became the epicenter of the epicenter during the pandemic,” said Sen. Jessica Ramos. “We lost tens of thousands of people just in this area of Queens.”
During the height of the pandemic, strict lockdowns were in place, and hospitals—especially Elmhurst—were overwhelmed with patients.
A Nurse’s Perspective: “A Warzone”
“When I think back at this, I think of a warzone,” said Janice Fana, a registered nurse and mother of five. “Patients were lined up stretcher to stretcher, no space.”
Fana, who has worked at Elmhurst Hospital for over 20 years, recalled the hospital shifting into full pandemic response mode. In March 2020, Elmhurst lost 13 patients to COVID-19 in just 24 hours.
“It was a shocker, and it affected me personally. I would go home and tears would stream down my face,” she said.
Lessons Learned and Areas for Improvement
Five years later, communities continue to reflect on lessons learned and areas that still need improvement.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we sadly have only seen nurse shortages and doctor shortages deepen,” Ramos said.
“Access to food was not great before. It’s still not great now,” added Sandro Navarro, Ramos’ district director.
Concerns about transparency also remain. Some criticized the lack of disclosure from lawmakers and medical institutions regarding patient deaths, particularly in nursing homes, which were overwhelmed during the crisis.
Bronx District Leader Christine Culpepper De Ruiz shared how her family continues to struggle with the loss of her mother-in-law.
“She died alone,” she said. “When so many things are hidden from family members of victims who passed away, like at nursing homes, it stays traumatic for longer periods of time because we want to know—why did it have to happen?”
Even five years later, for many families, closure remains out of reach.
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