Amid the coronavirus outbreak, hospitals across the country have reported a lack of protective equipment leading to exposure to the virus. And now some hospitals are telling staff not to talk to reporters, threatening disciplinary action if they speak out.

“I’m okay. Don’t tell Mom and Dad. They’ll worry,” Kious Kelly, a nurse manager at a Manhattan hospital, said via text to his sister days before his death of coronavirus, as reported by The New York Times.

A nurse that worked with Kelly declined to give their name because the Mount Sinai West hospital had said that no one is authorized to talk to the press. They told the Times that the hospital had offered nurses only one protective gown for their shift. Usually, workers would change gowns between each patient.

Marya Patrice Sherron, Kelly’s sister took to Facebook to express her anger at her otherwise healthy brother’s death as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He’s a number in a growing figure on a screen ... that number is an uncle, son, brother, and friend to so many,” said Kelly’s sister Marya Patrice Sherron on Facebook. “His death could have been prevented.”

In Washington, Ming Lin, who has been practicing medicine for 30 years, was let go from the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center after speaking out against the hospital’s failure to protect staff from COVID-19 to the Seattle Times.

Lin received a message saying, “Your shift has been covered.” After phoning his supervisor for clarification he was informed that he had been terminated.

Although he was working at the hospital, his employer was TeamHealth, a national firm that contracts with PeaceHealth’s emergency department.

“Despite it[s] flaws,” said Lin on social media. “Peacehealth St Joseph Hospital has many staff and colleagues who have my respect and are doing their best to provide care to the community.”

In Massachusetts, the largest nurses union is pushing back against such policies.

“They have the absolute right to say whatever they want about the COVID-19 situation, the lack of PPE and working conditions,” said Massachusetts Nurses Association spokesperson David Schildmeier said of nurses in the union. “As long as it’s true.”

“The only way to protect the public, and we’ve been very effective about it, is by going public about the concerns,” said Schildmeier, of hospital policies. “That puts pressure on them”

The nurses union has spoken out regarding a lack of protective equipment during the coronavirus outbreak.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced multiple efforts to offer additional equipment to health care staff this week. He coordinated with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who used the team plane to pick up 1.2 million N95 face masks to bring to the United States for use in Massachusetts and New York. About half a million pieces of PPE didn’t fit on the plane, so another shipment will be made.

Massachusetts public health officials announced 154 new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, the highest reported in a single day since the outbreak began.

Eighty-nine people have now succumbed to the virus, according to new data. The number of statewide COVID-19 cases rose to 8,966 on Thursday, up from 7,738 on Wednesday.

Schildmeier told MassLive that the only way for the public to respond safely is with accurate information and to be informed about what is really happening during the pandemic.

“These nurses across the country and the media who are giving them a voice to be heard,” said Schildmeier. “Apart from social distancing, maybe the most important aspect of the response to this pandemic.”

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