ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WWJ) -- Hospitals and healthcare facilitys throughout Michigan and across the country are asking for donations of personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic, and now Michigan Medicine is seeking 3D-printed face shields.
Officials with the University of Michigan's health system began accepting donations last weekend and had originally asked the public specifically to avoid donating homemade and 3D-printed masks, but as the supply continues to run low across the country, they are now accepting them, as long as the face shield piece is at least 9.5 inches long.
Before printing the masks, donors are asked to email ppe-donations@umich.edu to indicate interest.
People around the world have begun printing masks, including a group at East Lansing High School, which is donating their N95 masks to Lansing's Sparrow Hospital.
The donation site is open at the North Campus Research Complex at the corner of Huron Parkway and Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, the site of the former Pfizer complex U-M purchased a decade ago. The drive, which began March 21, runs every day from noon to 5 p.m.
Michigan Medicine says it has already collected thousands of pieces of new or unused personal protective equipment through the drive, including face masks, disposable gloves and gowns, surgical caps, hand sanitizer and more.
Other health systems, including Beaumont and Henry Ford, are also accepting donations.
Health officials do note that leaving home to donate protective gear to hospitals and other health organizations is permitted under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "stay home, stay safe" order, as the state continues to fight COVID-19. State health officials say 60 people have died statewide due to the virus, while there have been more than 2,800 total confirmed cases.
Trips to make such donations are exempted under the provision that allows volunteering for organizations that are serving individuals who need assistance as a result of the emergency.