Volunteers across the US have formed sewing groups to make as many masks as they can for hospitals in need of more supplies.
Peopleare sewing coronavirus masks for hospitals facing dire shortage - CNN
CNN on Twitter
Our community has a small specialty sewing business. They are now making mask to be used over N95 and at our nursing homes. Our NH have been put of mask for weeks.
A small T-shirt company closed and laid off last week. This week reopening to make disposable hospital gowns. They drove out of state to purchase and pick up the material.
Our community college has 2 3D printers. They are able to make the top piece of the face shields. They then attached the clear face shield. These were tested last week and passed QA controls. It takes 4 hours per headpiece. They will go to our local hospital.
The local Lowes home improvement made plastic shield for all the check outs, on their own time in home workshops.
Meals deliveries daily on bus routes to children.
Local dentists have donated mask, gloves and gowns.
Groups springing up to provide hand lotions, snacks for hospital, EMTs and LE, who are working relentlessly.
A local charity is paying 100% of day care cost for all LE, medical and EMS personnel.
Everyday public safety is posting. Our Board of Supervisors are trying to secure drive by testing and paying for out of county funds.
We seem to be organizing as a community. We have a fabulous director of Emergency Management. I am shocked at the out pouring from my little bitty town, who was hit by major factories closing under NAFTA.
I think many communities in SW Virginia realize, we are on our own. We've received 6 masks total from 2 large shipment to VA from the federal stockpile. We have almost no test kits and the private labs are taking 7 to 10 days for outpatient. The Governor refuses to tell where the supplies went.
Yesterday's presser we did find out Virginia has less than 2000 ventilators total!!! You should have seen the look on the Governors face when the Director of Health finally gave out the number after repeated request from the press. He immediately closed the presser.
I did leave a message for my PSDirector to put out a call for any unused home ventilators and bipap machines. We got hundreds of bipaps I know from working in health care, with medical companies and sleep labs. I know of some unused home vents as well.
We will have to prepare as communities, as state and federal resources are depleted faster than manufacturing can produce. By the time small communities are in crisis, nothing will be left.
Look to your community resources. What is your local city or county doing? Look for local groups that we may can help. Many groups are taking donations for snacks, drinks, hand lotion for police and EMTs. Please, give if you can.
Its our friends, neighbors, local hospitals, local EMS that's going to get us through this.
I'm feeling more hopeful today, than I've felt in weeks.
Moo....
