Medical workers in Los Angeles, and nationwide, say there is a shortage of protective medical gear amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence asked the public to donate N95 respirator masks and other personal protective gear to their local hospitals, as medical professionals brace for a wave of COVID-19 patients.
“Every hospital is struggling with this same challenge. We are reprocessing where it is safe, and using disinfection processes,” Dr. Stephanie Hall, Chief Medical Officer for USC Keck Medical Center, told KNX.
Hall said USC has limited deliveries.
“They are not the expected amount that we actually need, and so we are supplementing that for every source we can. It is a daily, critical activity that we’re in the process of ensuring that we have enough PPE for our health care workers,” Hall added.
In addition, Hall tells KNX they are sharing protective gear donations between their three LA-area hospitals.
“We have already received donations from our community that have pulled together to support our health care workers, and we really appreciate that,” Hall said.
Anyone interested in donating masks or protective gear can go to www.keckmedcine.org/Coronavirus or send an email to DonateProtectiveGear@med.USC.edu.