A Ross Township nurse who grew up in Hempfield is collecting health care supplies and non-perishable food for nurses in New York City, where he expects to be working the next eight weeks on the front lines of the coronavirus battlefront.
Chad Taylor, 35, who is a staff nurse for Allegheny Health Network and the Heritage Valley Health System, said he plans to go to New York on Tuesday to work as a relief nurse for the New York University health system’s crisis response unit. He made the arrangements through a health care staffing agency that will provide housing during his stay in the city.
“It’s not going to get any better anytime soon,” said Taylor, who has been a nurse for about 12 years.
Taylor will be working with patients in what has become the epicenter of the covid-19 crisis in the nation. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that nearly half of the state’s 103,000 cases of covid-19 patients are in New York City and, as of Friday, about 2,935 have died statewide.
By contrast, Allegheny County reported 356 cases and two deaths. Statewide, Pennsylvania had 8,420 cases and 90 deaths as of Friday.
“I’m scared, but it’s really scary here,” Taylor said.
“My mom (Cathy Knupp) is scared, like any mother,” Taylor said, but “my family is on board” with what he is doing.
Taylor said he wants to take with him supplies for his fellow nurses dealing with covid-19 patients, such as masks, antiseptic wipes and gloves.
“I’m also looking for snacks, bottled water and candy that can be kept at the nurses’ station” for those employees, Taylor said.
Taylor said his uncle, Fred Lydick of New Alexandria, a member of the New Alexandria Lions Club, is accepting donations of dropped-off supplies from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 1874 Lions Club Road, New Alexandria.
