
Hospitals in southeast Michigan are asking for help from the public as the new coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the state.
Officials with Beaumont Health, Henry Ford Health Systems, St. Joe's Mercy and the University of Michigan Medicine are seeking donations of new and unused medical supplies in order to help protect staff and patients during the pandemic.
The number of coronavirus cases rose sharply over the last week, with health officials announcing nearly 800 total cases statewide on Saturday, with eight deaths due to the virus.
Beaumont has two easy drop off locations that are self-drop and touch-free – in Southfield and VanBuren Twp. Addresses above and hours are on their website.
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is accepting donations between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Henry Ford is accepting donations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. until further notice. Michigan Medicine will accept donations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on the weekends. Beaumont says it is accepting donations any time.
While health officials say these items may be accepted down the road, there are some items that should not be donated:
Home-sewn reusable masks
3-D printed ventilator parts
Medications
Food
Blankets
Medical equipment or other supplies
A spokesperson with Michigan Medicine says their first day of donations on Saturday saw a lot of traffic -- 224 cars, two people on bikes and five people on foot came by to drop off supplies.