Alberta is sending 250,000 N95 masks to sa国际传媒 as part of a plan to supply personal protective equipment and ventilators to three provinces to help in the COVID-19 fight.
The Alberta government said Saturday that it can safely send the N95 masks, procedural masks, gloves, goggles and ventilators to sa国际传媒, Ontario, and Quebec while maintaining supply for Alberta鈥檚 health care system.
The Alberta government said it will begin shipping the items next week, and is willing to provide more supplies to other provinces as the need arise.
鈥淎lbertans should be very proud that we are able to extend a helping hand to our Canadian brothers and sisters in this time of need,鈥� Premier Jason Kenney said in a statement.
鈥淚t is because of Albertans鈥� efforts to isolate and the incredible job being done by front line health care workers that we are in a position to support others during this crisis. We want all of our country to know that in both good times and bad, Alberta is there for sa国际传媒.鈥�
Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia are the Canadian provinces that have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Quebec has more than 11,670 cases and 241 deaths, Ontario has more than 6,640 cases and 253 deaths, and sa国际传媒 has more than 1,400 cases and 58 deaths.
sa国际传媒 will receive:
鈥� 250,000 N95 masks
Quebec will receive:
鈥� 250,000 N95 masks
鈥� 2 million procedural masks
鈥� 15 million gloves
Ontario will receive:
鈥� 250,000 N95 masks
鈥� 2.5 million procedural masks
鈥� 15 million gloves
鈥� 87,000 goggles
鈥� 50 ventilators
It is expected the ventilators will remain in Ontario until the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak has passed.
Meantime Saturday, SafeCare sa国际传媒, the health and safety association for BC鈥檚 continuing care sector, called on government to 鈥渦rgently鈥� address the shortage of masks and other protective equipment at long term care and assisted living homes.
A recent survey conducted by SafeCare sa国际传媒 of 478 members revealed that 70 per cent are experiencing a critical shortage of personal protective equipment, while 77 per cent said they either have no N95 masks or only enough to last three days.
Fifty-one per cent of care providers say they either have no eye protection equipment or expect to be out by end of the long weekend, according SafeCare sa国际传媒
鈥淓very day, we are contacted by our members, who are desperate for personal protective equipment to keep workers and the people they care for safe,鈥� said Jen Lyle, CEO, SafeCare sa国际传媒, in a statement Saturday.
鈥淲e are so appreciative of the public鈥檚 response to our call for equipment, but we now need sa国际传媒鈥檚 health and political leaders to do more.鈥�
SafeCare sa国际传媒 said it was directing all donated items into the provincial supply chain but only three members had received PPE from the province.
Lyle said now the organization will respond directly to urgent requests for assistance from SafeCare sa国际传媒 members and assisted living providers.
