Statement of Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, on the outbreak of COVID-19 at CareOne at New Milford:

“1199SEIU expresses our deepest sympathies to the families who have lost a loved one at New Milford, and our utmost respect to the frontline caregivers putting their own health at risk to save lives.

“Last Thursday, our union received reports from our members working at CareOne at New Milford that a serious crisis was unfolding, with multiple suspected COVID-19 deaths. We immediately requested information from nursing home management and notified the New Jersey Department of Health. Yet it is only now, nearly a week later, that our worst fears are confirmed. This lack of transparency and communication to caregivers is unacceptable. It is essential for nursing facilities and state officials to be fully transparent to healthcare workers, residents and their families about the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.

“With over 80 New Jersey nursing homes with at least one case of COVID-19, it is more urgent than ever for PPE and testing supplies to be made readily available. This requires a strong, immediate response by our federal government to release PPE from the Strategic Defense Stockpile and invoke the Defense Production Act to increase production. There is no time to waste.”

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New Jersey and nationwide. We represent over 16,000 healthcare families in New Jersey and over 450,000 total members throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C.   Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.