Hey John — Jamaal here.
Today I wanted to address President Biden's leadership to confront the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we work through yet another surge in cases, I am proud of the efforts taken to keep Americans safe from Omicron, including using the Defense Production Act to speed up the production of additional testing kits as quickly as possible.
But as a proud leader of NY-16 and a dedicated New Yorker, it's crucial that I advocate that the Biden administration steer the necessary amount of testing kits to New York City to help combat the volume of cases we know may be coming in the months ahead.
This past Friday marked the highest reported testing day in New York City since the beginning of the pandemic. New York State reported 21,027 new positive cases — a new single-day record — and of those cases, New York City represented almost half.
In addition, lines for testing have wrapped around city blocks, leading to wait times of up to two or three hours in some areas. And at-home COVID tests are becoming scarce at pharmacies, leaving New Yorkers with few testing options before holiday travels.
Throughout the pandemic, New York City has served as the bellwether for the state of the pandemic. NY-16 was once considered the epicenter of the outbreak of COVID in 2020 and now, as the holiday season descends upon us, many New Yorkers are still grieving the loss of someone they knew due to the pandemic. We cannot afford another deadly repeat of 2020.
In times like these, we must further emphasize the need to ensure at-home tests are made available free of charge. It's crucial that we act swiftly to remove barriers that may prevent many people — often working people — from receiving the care they need and keep our communities healthy and safe.
We need to build up our collective momentum in order to continue putting the pressure on those with the responsibility and the power to bring the change and support we deserve, not only in NY-16 but all over the country. John, if you stand with me and my efforts to call on the Biden Administration to make sure that no community is left behind in this next wave of COVID prevention and support, please consider supporting our movement today.
Again, we thank the Biden administration for their leadership to address the COVID pandemic, and I look forward to working together to ensure that all of us are protected and supported during this public health crisis.
Peace and love,
Jamaal Bowman
