As hospitals struggle to make do with a limited supply of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), government and private entities are taking steps to address the problem. Academic leaders and technology executives launched Project N95, a clearinghouse for COVID-19 medical equipment. The group is collecting requests for PPE in order to expedite distribution to the places PPE is most needed as new stocks become available. A separate volunteer effort is calling on people with 3D printers to help produce urgently needed items. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted strategies for optimizing the supply of face masks under conventional, contingency and crisis conditions; and the Joint Commission posted videos on donning, doffing and disposal of PPE, along with guidance on managing critical shortages.
