Hospitals must be relieved, because New York is not prepared for Corona. ORF correspondent Christophe Kohl talks about it in an interview.
Christophe Kohl (34), who has been one of the new ORF correspondents in Washington since July 2019, visited “The Big Apple” for his coverage. In the “Today” interview he talks about the dramatic situation on site.
How was it to go to New York in times of Corona?
It was a strange feeling to go to New York under these circumstances. But for my colleague David Kriegleder and me it was very important to see the situation on site, to talk to the people there and then to report from there.
In purely practical terms, the journey from Washington DC was much faster than at normal times, because there are currently no traffic jams around and in New York City due to Corona.
What is happening there right now? What did you experience?
We were at an event center that is being converted into a fully functional hospital. Up to 2,000 beds will be set up there to relieve the already overwhelmed hospitals. We saw hundreds of people standing in front of hospitals to be tested for the virus in specially built tents. A makeshift morgue was built behind one of these hospitals with huge refrigerated trucks and tents. To see that was depressing.
What challenges did you experience in your work on site? And what protective measures did you have to take yourself?
Of course, we conducted our interviews from a safe distance. We also wore gloves and protective masks. We also brought all of our provisions with us from Washington to avoid going to a store in New York.
What has changed in New York now?
I was particularly impressed by how quiet it is there now. No hooting of taxis, no loud trucks, no noise from the crowds. In the famous Times Square, from which we were reporting, you could only hear the humming of the huge neon signs. Manhattan’s famous canyons are empty. This is spooky.
What is the mood? Also across from Trump?
The mood is of course depressed. People are worried. At the same time, many New Yorkers we’ve spoken to are optimistic. They say the city has been crisis-tested after terror and natural disasters and will therefore survive this crisis.
Those we met think relatively little of Donald Trump’s crisis management. They do not trust the president, but much more their New York governor, the Democrat Andrew Cuomo. He impresses with his crisis communication.
What are Corona’s biggest difficulties in the American healthcare system?
The American health system is largely privately organized. It may have excellent doctors, but it is not designed for the masses. Therefore, at the beginning of the crisis, it is already at its limit in many places.
In addition, many Americans do not see a doctor because they simply cannot afford to see a doctor. Around 30 million Americans do not have health insurance.
Were you afraid or uncomfortable in certain moments?
Don’t be afraid, but we were very careful. It was oppressive to see the otherwise lively New York so deserted.
