HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Two distributions of personal protective equipment (PPE) were made for small essential businesses and organizations in the city of Hartford Wednesday.
As part of the recently announced statewide initiative to deliver PPE to essential businesses, 3,740 surgical masks were distributed to over 100 businesses in Hartford, according to Director of Emergency Management and Fire Chief Reginald Freeman.
The distribution is in partnership with the State of Connecticut and CBIA-CONNSTEP with the help of the Connecticut National Guard and Hartford first responders, Freeman said. Supplies were distributed from the Hartford Public Safety Complex, Freeman said, along with resources on fire safety and renters insurance.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said essential businesses that have under 50 employees are eligible for the PPE distribution so long as they registered online. Businesses that are eligible and wish to take part in future distributions can visit ctcovidresponse.org for registration, Bronin said.
Freeman said under the direction of Bronin, an additional 1,500 face masks have been ordered for Hartford essential employees "to complement the surgical mask, the KN95 mask, or the N95 mask that they already have."
A second distribution is underway through a partnership with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, and OKAY Industries of New Britain.
Hartford officials say OKAY Industries is producing 4,000 face shields for the city. Bronin said the equipment will go to Hartford hospitals and nonprofits including Oak Hill, the American School for the Deaf and Options Unlimited, Inc.
"We are grateful to our governor," Freeman said, "but as Hartford employees, we are also very appreciative and grateful for our mayor who is assuring that we have everything that we need in the form of personal protective equipment to keep us safe as well as our citizens."
