Members of Social Adult Care Incorporated are questioning why they were left off New York State’s essential list amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The center takes care of adults with disabilities across the city and for them and many others, the pandemic has hit home.
"I've had two members dying, we have four in critical condition at the ICU,” said SACI Director Courtney Riozzi.
Members say they were also struggling for three meals a day. "I've had two people injured in the grocery store that 911 had to be called, I had someone pass out on the post office line,” said Riozzi.
The state’s Board of Health told News 12 that programs like SACI can continue socializing, but only remotely delivering meals and tech to function remotely is allowed.
However, this is only allowed at the discretion of each member's insurance plan. It’s an authorization Riozzi says she has not received from many companies.
"Are you gonna feed them? Are you going to get the masks? Are you going to get them gloves? How are they going to get to the grocery store?” said Riozzi.
For now, Riozzi says she and her staff continue to pay out of pocket to make food deliveries and check on her members.
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