For six Queens leaders, COVID-19 fight is personal
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Assemblymember Ron Kim (left) and Councilmember Costa Constantinides both had severe symptoms of COVID-19, though they did not get tested for the illness. Constantinides’ wife was hospitalized for the illness. Photo courtesy of Constantinides’ Office
By David Brand
Assemblymember Ron Kim knew something was very wrong — with his health and with the process for getting a COVID-19 test — shortly after his last trip to Albany in March.
A 104-degree fever and chills incapacitated Kim and confined him to his bed, he said. His wife began to experience similar symptoms and the two Flushing residents suspected they had COVID-19. Nevertheless, Kim said he declined to use his connections in city and state government to access a test.
“Cutting in line because I was an elected official, it’s not fair,” Kim said. “How many of my constituents can’t get a test?”
He decided to ride it out and follow the city’s guidelines for accessing a test. He tried to arrange an appointment by calling 311 and shared his information with an operator, but they never called back to schedule a time for testing, he said.
“One of the biggest shortcomings in this process is that there should have been testing early,” Kim said. “Going through this, I was able to experience first hand that we’re not administering the testing that’s required to get ahead of this.”
He’s not the only elected official to experience the illness firsthand. At least six policymakers are among the untold number of Queens residents who have contracted COVID-19. Nearly 33,5000 have tested positive for the illness as of 1 p.m. on Monday.
Councilmembers Barry Grodenchik and Paul Vallone, and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz each tested positive for the illness over the past three weeks. U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Councilmember Costa Constantinides said they experienced symptoms and quarantined themselves. All six are now on the mend.
Though Constantinides has recovered from the illness, his wife was hospitalized for more than a week and given oxygen to assist with breathing, he said on Twitter. Constantinides also isolated himself from his son for two weeks to avoid exposing him to the illness.
“I know I'm one of the lucky ones that I'm on the mend hopefully but some prayers for my wife who is a diabetic and in need of a kidney transplant too would be much appreciated,” he tweeted Friday. “This isn’t a drill folks. Please social distance. It's life or death. Please stay safe Queens!”
Grodenchik, one of at least nine councilmembers with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or COVID-like symptoms, said he lost 24 pounds battling the illness.
He said he first began worrying about his symptoms on Friday, March 13, when his stomach started rumbling.
“I said, ‘Damn that feels weird,’” he said. “I felt more like it was the flu coming on and on the fourth day the nausea was the worst thing. I don’t think I ate for close to 10 days.”
The nausea and shortness of breath lasted until late last week, Grodenchik said. He was finally able to take his first long walk around Alley Pond Park on Sunday. Even then, he said, he felt a little winded.
Grodenchik said his 24-year-old son had the same symptoms and lost 16 pounds, demonstrating that COVID-19 affects people of all ages and health levels.
His family’s experience lent personal urgency to his message to all New York City residents.
“Take this seriously and stay home,” Grodenchik said. “Don’t take this lightly.”
