Montco seeks donations of masks during pandemic
A big challenge facing health care workers battling COVID-19is a shortage of personal protective equipment.
EAGLEVILLE » One of the biggest challenges facing health care workers and others on the front line battling COVID-19 is a shortage of personal protective equipment such as masks and medical gowns and Montgomery County officials are once again turning to the public for help.
“I want to thank all of the businesses and schools and individuals who donated supplies about a month ago when we put out a request for donations. Now, as we come to the end of week six, I want to let people know that we again would be very grateful for contributions of any type of commercial masks. Not the cloth masks, but the commercial masks and particularly surgical masks,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh announced during a Thursday news briefing at the county Emergency Operation Center.
“Our need for these masks has increased dramatically, partly from some of the governor’s recent orders and other issues. So, if anybody that is affiliated with any institution or business that has particularly, surgical masks to spare, we would be so grateful for that donation to the county,” Arkoosh said. “We are using every avenue we can to get masks to the people who need them. We are going to need more masks but they’re extremely hard to purchase.”
Arkoosh said there also is a need for “impervious gowns,” or waterproof gowns.
“We really don’t care what they’re made of or what they look like. If you have impervious gowns that you could share, we would be very grateful for that contribution as well,” Arkoosh said.
Businesses or residents who have items to donate should send an email message with their information to COVID19@montcopa.org
“We’ll take it from there. We’ll figure out how to get it from you,” Arkoosh explained.
On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered businesses authorized to maintain in-person operations during the COVID-19 disaster emergency to provide masks to workers.
Wolf’s order, which takes effect at 8 p.m. on Sunday, also requires all customers to wear masks while at a business and advises businesses to deny entry to individuals not wearing masks, “unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food.” In those instances, the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of goods.
“We have been very judicious in our use of masks here but now it’s required that all employees have masks and there’s some other requirements that I think go into effect Sunday night,” Arkoosh said. “My staff is telling me that we’re going to need more masks just across the board. We need more masks. A lot of people need masks. We are scrambling a little bit to make sure that all of our employees have masks.”
In a news release, Wolf said his mandates regarding masks will provide “critical protections for the workers needed to run and operate these life-sustaining establishments.”
“This order will ensure continuity across all lifesustaining businesses and will further our efforts to protect the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians. Together, we can all help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” added Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the state Department of Health.