Coronavirus in Ohio: Masks, gear from U.S. stockpile arrive but they’re not enough

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 23, 2020)— Ohio’s counties will get this week their portion of face masks, gowns and other medical equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile, the state’s public health director said Monday as she warned the additions won’t be enough to stem shortages at hospitals across the state.

The daily drain on personal protective equipment (PPE) was a reason that UC Health announced Monday that no visitors would be permitted at the system’s two acute-care facilities, including the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, with narrow exceptions.

The run on the supply of PPE, particularly enhanced N95 air filter masks, has pushed hospitals to direct workers conserve and reuse the masks according to guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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