Several of New York City's major hospitals do not have enough equipment or hospital beds to handle the spreading coronavirus pandemic, and the fact that President Donald Trump has not "really invoked" the Defense Production Act to compel manufacturers to make the materials, lives will be lost, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Sunday.
"Many hospitals are already at capacity or are approaching, and there is no kind of new real stream in sight from the federal government on where these materials are coming from," the New York Democrat told CNN's "State of the Union." "Companies are donating what they can. That is great. It is not enough."
Earlier on the program, FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor said the act is not yet needed because so many companies are volunteering their help, but Ocasio-Cortez disagreed.
"We are nowhere near the beds, the capacity, that we need in this country," she said. "We cannot wait until people start really dying in large numbers to start production, especially of more complicated equipment like ventilators and hospital beds. "
Ocasio-Cortez also discussed the work on the economic stimulus package under discussion in Congress, saying she does not think there is a number that is "too small" when it comes to how much must be allocated to save the nation's economy.
"I don't think a lot of people out there really understand the systemic shock that is being experienced. She also said she opposed corporate bailouts from being included in a relief package, as it should focus on unemployment and other relief measures for the nation's households.
Ocasio-Cortez also urged America's younger people to stay home.
"In the state of New York, 55% of our cases are folks 18 to 49," she said. "A, you are able to be directly impacted, and B, you're going to get your mom sick, you're going to get your grandparents sick, you're going to get people you love and care for sick even if you are asymptomatic."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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