Doctors, nurses, and other professional staff from Ithaca-based Cayuga Health are departing Wednesday morning on a trip to help out with the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are proud to be sending such outstanding medical professionals and true \u2018healthcare heroes\u2019 to assist hard hit New York City in fighting this COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Martin Stallone, president and CEO of Cayuga Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The teams will fill two buses being provided by Cornell University. They will depart at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday with a send-off ceremony that will be streamed via Facebook Live. Organizers also urged those in the community to cheer and hold up signs along the route in support of the staff, with respect to proper social distancing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Tompkins County Sheriff\u2019s Office will help with the procession through the city, which will be followed by an official NASCAR pace car from Watkins Glen International Speedway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stallone thanked Cornell University for its support with this effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese volunteers, and all of the health care workers at the forefront of this pandemic, are acting with courage and compassion in a situation that is both unprecedented and incredibly challenging,\u201d said Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack. \u201cTogether with our essential workers, like police, firefighters, facilities workers, food and grocery workers and others, they deserve every support we can offer them as they help to meet the critical human needs in this crisis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will continue to do what it takes to fight this epidemic and meet the healthcare needs of our community and beyond,\u201d Stallone added. \u201cWe may be a small community, but our employees have huge hearts and we know that we can step up and help out in a big way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n