NEW ORLEANS - At today's regular Council meeting, Council President Jason Williams introduced a resolution urging Congressional support for universal, comprehensive health care coverage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
"The United States is the only large wealthy nation in the world without universal health care. This pandemic painfully highlights the health care disparities that have existed for years and has put a spotlight on the systemic inequalities at the root of our health care system, which treats good health as a privilege. After the past several weeks, I think it is abundantly clear that the lack of healthcare and health of your fellow citizens has a direct impact on your health, physical and fiscal, regardless of their income bracket. Our most vulnerable citizens pre-COVID need our support now more than ever, and if we don't do something about it, they will be even more vulnerable post-pandemic. We can and must do better; it's in our collective best interests," said Councilmember Williams.
Councilmember Williams also authored a resolution advising all offices and businesses that are accessible to the public to sanitize high touch hard surfaces at regular intervals throughout the day, maintain "sanitation stations" for hand cleaning at entrances and exits, and impose measures such as one-way foot traffic decals to prevent individuals from passing one another at close distances.
He continued, "We know that some guidance exists and that more is being developed. As nearly every city in the world is endeavoring to architect the next phase of this new normal after imposing self-induced comas on their economies, the goal here is to highlight minimal protocols that can be taken and advise businesses to start planning these steps as we move closer to the first phase of our re-opening. These protocols, along with maintenance logs of all cleaning and disinfection tasks performed, will not only limit the spread of COVID-19 but will also engender the confidence and trust of prospective patrons."