MBP Levine Announces Formation Of ‘Covid Response Taskforce’ To Focus On NYC’s Pandemic Response

Monday, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine continued his efforts to improve the city’s pandemic response and position Manhattan for a strong pandemic recovery with the announcement of the Covid Response Taskforce.

The Taskforce will work closely with the Manhattan Borough President’s Office (MBPO) to present recommendations that will be used in conjunction with the powers of the office to help to better accomplish the goals of ending the pandemic and preparing for a recovery.

The COVID Recovery Task Force will bring experts in health care, public health, and key industries critical to our economy together to identify strategies to help our city end our battle against covid and to lay the foundation for Manhattan’s comeback…

“One of the most vital powers of the Borough President Office is the power to convene a broad range of voices to come together to tackle tough questions. The COVID Recovery Task Force will bring experts in health care, public health, and key industries critical to our economy together to identify strategies to help our city end our battle against covid and to lay the foundation for Manhattan’s comeback,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.” The pandemic has forced our city to face extremely difficult issues, and this group of experts will help identify a path towards ending this crisis in a manner that makes us stronger and more equitable than we were before.

Levine announced the appointment of former Deputy Borough President and current Executive Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York Aldrin Bonilla to helm the Taskforce as the ‘Covid Czar’. He will serve in this role as an appointee in tandem with his current positions.

Our city is still in the grip of this pandemic, with deep health and economic inequalities exposed and exacerbated by our two-year battle with the virus…

“Our city is still in the grip of this pandemic, with deep health and economic inequalities exposed and exacerbated by our two-year battle with the virus,” said Commissioner Aldrin Bonilla, Levine’s COVID Recovery Czar. “Borough President Levine’s leadership during this pandemic has been exemplary, and I’m looking forward to working with him and the members of the task force to lay the foundation for a just and complete recovery.”

Under Bonilla, the Covid Response Taskforce will be charged with reviewing and auditing the City’s covid response infrastructure and healthcare apparatus to make policy recommendations directly to Manhattan Borough President Levine.

By identifying opportunities and gaps in the City’s response system, Borough President Levine believes the Task Force can help the city improve critical components of its pandemic response, including testing & tracing, vaccine & booster distribution, hybrid work policies, and public school operations & protocols among other aspects of the city’s pandemic response.