New York City officials are urging Gov. Cuomo to temporarily shut down its subway system in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
According to the New York Post, four city council members penned a letter to Cuomo stating that MTA workers do not have the proper equipment to protect themselves along with reduced service causing overcrowding on subway trains.
RELATED STORIES: UPDATE: Governor Andrew Cuomo Extends New York Lockdown Until May 15
“MTA employees are going to work every day with woefully inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE). They are given one mask and one pair of gloves for an entire week while continuing to work among the filth of the subway,”
RELATED STORIES: Governor Andrew Cuomo Orders All New Yorkers To Wear Masks In Public
68 MTA workers have died after contracting the coronavirus and over 2,496 workers have tested positive. Spokeswoman Abbey Collins said 4,365 workers are in quarantine to prevent the spread and many have returned to work after quarantine.
The letter further stated homeless New Yorkers are at risk to catch the virus and spreading it to others since they frequently reside in subway cars:
“…..homeless New Yorkers are seeking refuge on the subways and taking over entire train cars, further endangering themselves and others. Taking all of this information into account, we believe that the New York City transit system is a primary contributor to the spread of COVID-19, and we recommend a temporary closure of the system for at least one week for deep cleaning of trains, buses, and stations.”
One of the suggestions was to close the subway from midnight to 5 a.m. to give each subway station a deep cleaning and to provide PPE for all MTA workers along with suggesting that riders should wear face masks.