Council Member Francisco Moya facilitated Apollo Global Management's donation of 100,000 KN95 facemasks to Elmhurst Hospital amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on April 3, 2020.
Council Member Francisco Moya facilitated Apollo Global Management’s donation of 100,000 KN95 facemasks to Elmhurst Hospital amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on April 3, 2020.

CORONA, NY (April 3, 2020) — Working in partnership with New York City Council Member Francisco Moya, Apollo Global Management and Co-Founder Josh Harris are donating 10,000 KN95 facemasks to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst on Friday, helping to provide much-needed Personal Protective Equipment to Elmhurst Hospital staff amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The firm will send an additional 90,000 KN95 masks to the hospital next week.

“Health care professionals are on the front line of this crisis. They didn’t sign up just for the good days or easy days. They signed up to save lives and we need to make sure they’re able to suit up for that fight,” said Council Member Moya, Elmhurst Hospital’s former Director of Business Development, who facilitated the urgent assistance. “The people at Apollo are true New Yorkers who have stepped up in a big way – led by Josh Harris – to support the courageous doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Knowing that we haven’t even reached the apex of this fight, it’s imperative that together we make every effort, big and small, to get those on the frontline the armor they need to stay in the fight.”

“All of us at Apollo have been inspired by the numerous acts of extraordinary heroism we’ve witnessed at Elmhurst Hospital in recent days and we will continue to do everything we can to be a meaningful part of the response to the global pandemic,” said Harris, Co-Founder of Apollo. “We deeply appreciate the crucial role that Council Member Moya played in arranging for us to provide this assistance and the bold and effective actions the entire Elmhurst Hospital team has taken to meet this unprecedented challenge.”

“On behalf of our patients and healthcare providers, I want to thank Apollo Global Management, Josh Harris and Council Member Francisco Moya for their generous donation of KN95 masks to help us provide patient care during this unprecedented pandemic,” said Israel Rocha, Vice President of NYC Health + Hospitals and CEO of Elmhurst and Queens Hospitals. “The outpouring of support we have received from community members and our elected officials has been truly inspiring and has warmed our hearts during an extremely difficult time. The generosity of Apollo Global Management will directly arm our workers with the safety protection they need to continue fighting this disease and saving lives.”

Last week, the Elmhurst Hospital CEO Israel Rocha reached out to Council Member Moya to request help with the facility’s shortage of personal protective equipment. The Council Member was able to facilitate the generous donation from Apollo Global Management directly to the hospital.

The community surrounding Elmhurst Hospital has been the hardest hit by the disease, according to city data. Borough-wide, Queens had 16,819 positive cases as of Thursday night. For perspective, that number represents nearly 8 percent of all positive cases in the United States and more than 18 percent of cases in New York State.

Hospitals across the country are facing a national shortage of personal protective equipment such as medical gloves, gowns and masks. In addition to the supply shortage, Governor Andrew Cuomo also noted that the cost of masks has also skyrocketed. Masks that previously cost $0.85 now cost as much as $7.00, he said.

Little distinguishes KN95 masks from N95 masks beyond marginally different factory standards. Both masks create a seal around the nose and mouth and filter 95 percent of airborne particles. The Center for Disease Control identified the KN95 as a “suitable alternative” to the N95 mask, which is certified by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The world’s largest manufacturer of masks, 3M, also identified the KN95 mask as “equivalent” to the N95.

About Francisco Moya

Council Member Francisco Moya represents the New York City Council’s 21st District, which encompasses Corona, East Elmhurst, LeFrak City and parts of Jackson Heights. He chairs the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and sits on seven other committees: Civil Service and Labor; Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations; Finance; Immigration; Land Use; Parks and Recreation; and Hospitals. Council Member Moya also serves as the vice co-chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus (BLAC). For more information, please visit council.nyc.gov/francisco-moya.