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| These Are the Heartbreaking Belongings That Covid Victims Left Behind | These Are the Heartbreaking Belongings That Covid Victims Left Behind |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| When virus patients died, New York hospitals were faced with a sensitive problem: What to do with thousands of personal items? | When virus patients died, New York hospitals were faced with a sensitive problem: What to do with thousands of personal items? |
| By Andrea Salcedo | By Andrea Salcedo |
| Photographs by Christopher Gregory | Photographs by Christopher Gregory |
| Rafael Eli, 68, stopped breathing in the early hours of April 16 after having spent 18 days on a ventilator at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. | Rafael Eli, 68, stopped breathing in the early hours of April 16 after having spent 18 days on a ventilator at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. |
| Every day, his sister Myriam Eli, who lives in Florida, had called Mount Sinai to inquire about her brother, who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 after having been hospitalized in March. | Every day, his sister Myriam Eli, who lives in Florida, had called Mount Sinai to inquire about her brother, who had been diagnosed with Covid-19 after having been hospitalized in March. |
| After his death, Ms. Eli called the hospital several times to inquire about the whereabouts of her brother’s belongings. | After his death, Ms. Eli called the hospital several times to inquire about the whereabouts of her brother’s belongings. |
| “They couldn’t find them for a while,” Ms. Eli, 66, said. | “They couldn’t find them for a while,” Ms. Eli, 66, said. |
| Across New York, workers in patient services at hospitals have had to figure out what to do with the thousands of cellphones, chargers, walkers, canes, hearing aids, dentures, glasses, clothing, shoes, wallets, Bibles, jewelry, among other items, that have been left behind by patients who have died after contracting Covid-19. | Across New York, workers in patient services at hospitals have had to figure out what to do with the thousands of cellphones, chargers, walkers, canes, hearing aids, dentures, glasses, clothing, shoes, wallets, Bibles, jewelry, among other items, that have been left behind by patients who have died after contracting Covid-19. |
| One hospital had so many of these items in April that the staff stored them in a room that had been previously used to keep the belongings of patients scheduled for surgery. | One hospital had so many of these items in April that the staff stored them in a room that had been previously used to keep the belongings of patients scheduled for surgery. |
| By early May, another hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, stored about 140 unclaimed items — some kept in bags used for biohazard material — in a room adjacent to its morgue. | By early May, another hospital, St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, stored about 140 unclaimed items — some kept in bags used for biohazard material — in a room adjacent to its morgue. |
| “There was no room for neither the deceased nor the property,” said Demetrius Long, 60, director of security at St. Barnabas, who oversaw the hospital’s coronavirus fatality management plan. | “There was no room for neither the deceased nor the property,” said Demetrius Long, 60, director of security at St. Barnabas, who oversaw the hospital’s coronavirus fatality management plan. |
| Many items have remained unclaimed, in many cases because hospital officials have been unable to locate the next of kin. In turn, they have become a symbolic reminder of the toll wrought by a pandemic that has killed more than 20,000 New Yorkers. | Many items have remained unclaimed, in many cases because hospital officials have been unable to locate the next of kin. In turn, they have become a symbolic reminder of the toll wrought by a pandemic that has killed more than 20,000 New Yorkers. |
| When the number of casualties started rising in mid-April, the Bureau of Funeral Directing in the New York City Health Department and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner issued guidelines outlining the best practices for health care facilities to safely manage the belongings of patients who died of Covid-19. | When the number of casualties started rising in mid-April, the Bureau of Funeral Directing in the New York City Health Department and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner issued guidelines outlining the best practices for health care facilities to safely manage the belongings of patients who died of Covid-19. |
| To deal with the surge of items, many hospitals quickly adjusted their property management services. | To deal with the surge of items, many hospitals quickly adjusted their property management services. |
| At St. Barnabas, a deceased person’s items no longer accompanied them to the hospital’s morgue. Instead, the items were stored in the morgue’s viewing room, where a team of three hospital workers would list them in a spreadsheet, said Mr. Long, the hospital’s security director. | At St. Barnabas, a deceased person’s items no longer accompanied them to the hospital’s morgue. Instead, the items were stored in the morgue’s viewing room, where a team of three hospital workers would list them in a spreadsheet, said Mr. Long, the hospital’s security director. |
| Several hospitals, including St. Barnabas and N.Y.U. Langone-Tisch Hospital in Manhattan, extended their normal 30-day policy for family or friends to retrieve items. | Several hospitals, including St. Barnabas and N.Y.U. Langone-Tisch Hospital in Manhattan, extended their normal 30-day policy for family or friends to retrieve items. |
| Hospital staff often spent days trying to locate next of kin. | Hospital staff often spent days trying to locate next of kin. |
| Desiree Conway, a patient representative with Mount Sinai who began her job in January and was still training when the pandemic hit, said her team was making so many phone calls during the city’s death surge that the department had to extend its weekday hours and remain open during the weekend. | Desiree Conway, a patient representative with Mount Sinai who began her job in January and was still training when the pandemic hit, said her team was making so many phone calls during the city’s death surge that the department had to extend its weekday hours and remain open during the weekend. |
| “The job became, I would say, much bigger than I would have expected,” Ms. Conway, 25, said. | “The job became, I would say, much bigger than I would have expected,” Ms. Conway, 25, said. |
| SUNY Downstate Medical Center faced challenges in tracking down patients’ friends or relatives. Often, patients arrived at the hospital in an ambulance and with no personal documentation or information about their next of kin, said Dawn Skeete-Walker, associate vice-president of communications and marketing. | SUNY Downstate Medical Center faced challenges in tracking down patients’ friends or relatives. Often, patients arrived at the hospital in an ambulance and with no personal documentation or information about their next of kin, said Dawn Skeete-Walker, associate vice-president of communications and marketing. |
| “Sometimes we had very limited info,” Ms. Skeete-Walker said. | “Sometimes we had very limited info,” Ms. Skeete-Walker said. |
| Once the relatives were found, scheduling appointments for families to retrieve their loved ones’ belongings also posed a challenge. Many, like Ms. Eli, were not allowed to visit the hospital and did not want to set foot there because of fears of contracting the virus, several health care workers at different hospitals said. Others, still mourning, were not ready to collect items left behind by loved ones. | Once the relatives were found, scheduling appointments for families to retrieve their loved ones’ belongings also posed a challenge. Many, like Ms. Eli, were not allowed to visit the hospital and did not want to set foot there because of fears of contracting the virus, several health care workers at different hospitals said. Others, still mourning, were not ready to collect items left behind by loved ones. |
| At one of the hardest-hit facilities, Queens Hospital, a member of NYC Health + Hospitals, the city’s public hospital network, the emergency management staff met relatives of the deceased outside for safety reasons, said Marzya Sdrewski, who oversees the Office of Property. A package containing relatives’ belongings also included handling instructions, a face mask, gloves and a hand sanitizer. | At one of the hardest-hit facilities, Queens Hospital, a member of NYC Health + Hospitals, the city’s public hospital network, the emergency management staff met relatives of the deceased outside for safety reasons, said Marzya Sdrewski, who oversees the Office of Property. A package containing relatives’ belongings also included handling instructions, a face mask, gloves and a hand sanitizer. |
| But for the workers, the effort went beyond sorting through thousands of bags, placing hundreds of phone calls and scheduling the deliveries or pickups. They understood that items carried an emotional value. | But for the workers, the effort went beyond sorting through thousands of bags, placing hundreds of phone calls and scheduling the deliveries or pickups. They understood that items carried an emotional value. |
| “That was the last thing they were wearing before they went into the hospital,” said Jo-Ann Delgado, the supervisor of patient relations at N.Y.U. Langone-Tisch Hospital. | “That was the last thing they were wearing before they went into the hospital,” said Jo-Ann Delgado, the supervisor of patient relations at N.Y.U. Langone-Tisch Hospital. |
| A man whose mother died at Queens Hospital rushed to pick up her jacket, which contained a treasured locket in its sleeve. | A man whose mother died at Queens Hospital rushed to pick up her jacket, which contained a treasured locket in its sleeve. |
| A man who lost his father at N.Y.U. Langone-Tisch Hospital was elated when a worker told him they would mail him his father’s tefillin, a pair of cubic black leather boxes with leather straps that go around the arm that Jewish adults, especially Orthodox men, use during morning prayer. | |
| A woman in a nursing home, who did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother before she died at St. Barnabas, asked the hospital’s security department to mail her a jacket, a purse and other clothing her mother had left behind. | A woman in a nursing home, who did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother before she died at St. Barnabas, asked the hospital’s security department to mail her a jacket, a purse and other clothing her mother had left behind. |
| “She said that was the last thing that her mother had worn,” James Andino, associate director of security and morgue manager at St. Barnabas, said of the jacket. | “She said that was the last thing that her mother had worn,” James Andino, associate director of security and morgue manager at St. Barnabas, said of the jacket. |
| Updated June 24, 2020 | Updated June 24, 2020 |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| About a week after Ms. Eli last called the hospital to track her brother’s items, she got a call from a patient representative who said Mr. Eli’s belongings had been located. Ms. Eli, who was unable to travel to New York from Florida, authorized Joe Schramm, her brother’s best friend and business partner who lives in Long Island, to collect them. | About a week after Ms. Eli last called the hospital to track her brother’s items, she got a call from a patient representative who said Mr. Eli’s belongings had been located. Ms. Eli, who was unable to travel to New York from Florida, authorized Joe Schramm, her brother’s best friend and business partner who lives in Long Island, to collect them. |
| Mr. Schramm had been one of the people Mr. Eli called on March 29, hours before being put on a ventilator, to tell him that doctors said he was likely to die from the virus; going on a ventilator was his final chance. He was calling to say farewell. | Mr. Schramm had been one of the people Mr. Eli called on March 29, hours before being put on a ventilator, to tell him that doctors said he was likely to die from the virus; going on a ventilator was his final chance. He was calling to say farewell. |
| After several calls trying to schedule a time to pick up his friend’s belongings, Mr. Schramm was told by a member of the hospital’s security team that they could not locate the items. | After several calls trying to schedule a time to pick up his friend’s belongings, Mr. Schramm was told by a member of the hospital’s security team that they could not locate the items. |
| With so many deaths, keeping track of the patients’ belongings as they were transferred between units became very difficult, said Ms. Conway, the patient representative at Mount Sinai. | With so many deaths, keeping track of the patients’ belongings as they were transferred between units became very difficult, said Ms. Conway, the patient representative at Mount Sinai. |
| But eventually the hospital found the items. | But eventually the hospital found the items. |
| On an afternoon in May, a courier, wearing a mask and gloves, arrived at Mr. Schramm’s house, offered his condolences and carefully placed the box on the driveway. | On an afternoon in May, a courier, wearing a mask and gloves, arrived at Mr. Schramm’s house, offered his condolences and carefully placed the box on the driveway. |
| “I was emotionally affected in a way that I did not expect,” Mr. Schramm, 66, said. | “I was emotionally affected in a way that I did not expect,” Mr. Schramm, 66, said. |
| The courier instructed him to wait seven days to open the large bag of items, and to do so outside his house. | The courier instructed him to wait seven days to open the large bag of items, and to do so outside his house. |
| On a sunny afternoon, Mr. Schramm opened the bag. Inside, he found his best friend’s clothes, a pair of sneakers, an Adidas backpack, about a week’s worth of kidney medication, two books (a copy of “The Art of Spiritual Healing” by Joel Goldsmith and “House of Gold” by Natasha Solomons), an uncharged cellphone, a navy blue toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. On page 46 of Mr. Goldsmith’s book, Mr. Eli had circled this sentence: “Let God fill your mind.” | On a sunny afternoon, Mr. Schramm opened the bag. Inside, he found his best friend’s clothes, a pair of sneakers, an Adidas backpack, about a week’s worth of kidney medication, two books (a copy of “The Art of Spiritual Healing” by Joel Goldsmith and “House of Gold” by Natasha Solomons), an uncharged cellphone, a navy blue toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. On page 46 of Mr. Goldsmith’s book, Mr. Eli had circled this sentence: “Let God fill your mind.” |
| Inside another small plastic bag, Mr. Schramm found Mr. Eli’s credit cards, keys, an unused ticket for “72 Miles to Go” at the Roundabout Theater, his driver’s license and $63 in cash. He also found cuff links inside a fanny pack. | Inside another small plastic bag, Mr. Schramm found Mr. Eli’s credit cards, keys, an unused ticket for “72 Miles to Go” at the Roundabout Theater, his driver’s license and $63 in cash. He also found cuff links inside a fanny pack. |
| Retrieving his best friend’s belongings was the last and only bit of Mr. Eli that Mr. Schramm could keep, he said. | Retrieving his best friend’s belongings was the last and only bit of Mr. Eli that Mr. Schramm could keep, he said. |
| He plans to keep a sweatshirt and the phone and will wear the cuff links. Some other items, including the drivers license and the ticket, are sitting in a drawer. | He plans to keep a sweatshirt and the phone and will wear the cuff links. Some other items, including the drivers license and the ticket, are sitting in a drawer. |
| “I just wanted to have a little touch of what he had at the very end,” Mr. Schramm said. “It was the only thing I could hang onto.” | “I just wanted to have a little touch of what he had at the very end,” Mr. Schramm said. “It was the only thing I could hang onto.” |