The Massachusetts Nurses Association urged Gov. Charlie Baker shut down the MBTA to nonessential workers and make more resources available for health care professionals treating COVID-19 cases.In a letter to the governor on Wednesday, the group said the state should shut down all public transportation except for essential personal or individuals cleared to travel, similar to the restrictions imposed during the blizzard of 1978. “This would allow those who must use public transportation to do so, while imposing social distancing standards,” MNA President Donna Kelly-Williams wrote. “Shuttle bus services at health care facilities should also be curtailed to be in compliance with social distancing recommendations.”The group said as caregivers work to meet the increased demand brought on by the coronavirus, basic resources are needed. Health care facilities still do not have enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline staff, and tests that detect the virus are still not widely available, the group said.“Potentially infected individuals are presenting at hospitals that are still not equipped to triage, test, and properly treat them in an appropriate setting,” Kelly-Williams wrote.Nurses continue to be concerned about the capacity to treat the potential influx of individuals with COVID-19. “After years of closures of beds, units and hospitals, and reductions in frontline health care staff, hospitals lack the space and staff to deal with an unprecedented outbreak of this highly contagious virus. This puts patients, health care workers and the general public at risk,” Kelly-Williams wrote.The MNA Baker to ensure all health care staff caring for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients are provided with gloves, a gown, fit-tested NIOSH-certified disposable N-95 masks, goggles and disposable face shields. The association wants more drive-thru testing sites and designated hospital floors to treat suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. In order to provide care to patients, health care workers need additional resources, including childcare options and housing, such as a designated hotel or dorm at one of the vacant college campuses. In addition to the directive from the Department of Public to postpone or cancel all nonessential, elective invasive procedures, the MNA suggests clinics and all other health care facilities should follow suit.PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cg==.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association urged Gov. Charlie Baker shut down the MBTA to nonessential workers and make more resources available for health care professionals treating COVID-19 cases.

In a letter to the governor on Wednesday, the group said the state should shut down all public transportation except for essential personal or individuals cleared to travel, similar to the restrictions imposed during the blizzard of 1978.


“This would allow those who must use public transportation to do so, while imposing social distancing standards,” MNA President Donna Kelly-Williams wrote. “Shuttle bus services at health care facilities should also be curtailed to be in compliance with social distancing recommendations.”

The group said as caregivers work to meet the increased demand brought on by the coronavirus, basic resources are needed. Health care facilities still do not have enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline staff, and tests that detect the virus are still not widely available, the group said.

“Potentially infected individuals are presenting at hospitals that are still not equipped to triage, test, and properly treat them in an appropriate setting,” Kelly-Williams wrote.

Nurses continue to be concerned about the capacity to treat the potential influx of individuals with COVID-19.

“After years of closures of beds, units and hospitals, and reductions in frontline health care staff, hospitals lack the space and staff to deal with an unprecedented outbreak of this highly contagious virus. This puts patients, health care workers and the general public at risk,” Kelly-Williams wrote.

The MNA Baker to ensure all health care staff caring for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients are provided with gloves, a gown, fit-tested NIOSH-certified disposable N-95 masks, goggles and disposable face shields.

The association wants more drive-thru testing sites and designated hospital floors to treat suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In order to provide care to patients, health care workers need additional resources, including childcare options and housing, such as a designated hotel or dorm at one of the vacant college campuses.

In addition to the directive from the Department of Public to postpone or cancel all nonessential, elective invasive procedures, the MNA suggests clinics and all other health care facilities should follow suit.

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