In the past few weeks a letter released by Assemblyman Joe Lentol and Simcha Eichenstein and many of their colleagues in government, includning State Senators and Congressmen, called on hospitals to allow a volunteer based program that'll allow visitors with proper PPE. 

Assemblyman Eichenstein lauded the governor for announcing the pilot program, while calling on the governor to continue building on this program. “I have advocated and will continue to advocate for this no-visitors policy to be revisited in it’s entirety until we achieve a level of access that patients and families are comfortable with," he said. "While it’s extremely unfortunate so many patients did not have a family member by their side at their most vulnerable time over these last two months, I am glad and grateful that Governor Cuomo has finally heard our call and is taking a first step by implementing this pilot program in which family members will now be allowed limited visitation at specific hospitals. I believe this expansion will also greatly enhance many patient’s chances for a full recovery - implementing safety measures that will offer immeasurable comfort to the patients and their family members.”

The hospitals participating in the two-week pilot program include Maimonides Medical Center in Boro Park as well as 15 other hospitals located across the state.