New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot resigned on Tuesday over Mayor Bill de Bloasio’s mishandling of the coronavirus response in New York City. She was very critical of the way things were done. She is making sure that everyone is aware of it too.
Barbot said:
“I leave my post today with deep disappointment that during the most critical public health crisis in our lifetime, that the Health Department’s incomparable disease control expertise was not used to the degree it could have been.”
“Our experts are world renowned for their epidemiology, surveillance and response work. The city would be well served by having them at the strategic center of the response not in the background.”
“I have every confidence that you, the committed individuals of this agency, will continue to dedicate yourselves to protecting the health of all New Yorkers during this unprecedented public health emergency. The moment demands it without distractions.”
Barbot was surrounded by controversy after the police requested a large amount of face masks and she did not give them any. She allegedly said “I don’t give two rats’ a–es about your cops. I need them for others.” She apologized at the time while not admitting those were her exact words. She apologized again yesterday and said that she regretted that she didn’t have enough masks to at least give the police some of what they requested.
“This morning I submitted my formal resignation to Mayor de Blasio,” she wrote. “Your experience and guidance have been the beacon leading this city through this historic pandemic and that to successfully brace against the inevitable second wave, your talents must be better leveraged alongside that of our sister agencies.”