The medial professionals trying to save patients from the coronavirus are asking for the tools to do so safely. 

Nurses and doctors gathered at Montefiore Medical Center’s Moses campus in the Bronx to offer testimony of what it’s like working during the pandemic. They also demanded that more needed to be done to protect them while on the job. 

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“A few days ago I tested positive for COVID-19, and I'm already back at work now... And I can certainly say that I became COVID-19 positive because I did not have a mask, I did not have gowns, I did not have space to work inside the crowded emergency room,” said Benny Mathew, a member of the New York State Nurses Association.  

He was one of the dozen members, alongside doctors and health care workers, with messages in hand outside the hospital Thursday. 

“Management has put it in writing that we are to reuse our masks, gowns and face shields. Reusing contaminated items put me at risk, it puts you at risk. It puts everyone at the health care building at risk. We are demanding to invoke the Defense Production Act so that all of our factories can be spinning out PPE for us,” said nurse Victoria Lanquah. 

The Defense Production Act is a law that was first passed in 1950 during the Korean War. When invoked, it gives the president the authority to require companies to make items deemed necessary, which in this case is PPE. 

During the coronavirus pandemic so far, President Donald Trump has used the law to force General Motors to make ventilators. 

News 12 reached out to Montefiore for a response to the nurses’ concerns and has not heard back yet.