A report on supplies of Personal Protective Equipment locally

(Photo courtesy of National Cancer Institute)

Winneshiek Medical Center Trustees are being reassured that local health care providers are closely watching current supplies of Personal Protective Equipment. WMC administrator Dave Rooney told board members, "If we're not here, we can't protect anybody." As a result, PPE supplies are being kept under lock and key.

Rooney says supplies of gloves are adequate at this time. Supplies of gowns and eye protectors are less plentiful, but adequate right now, although more would be welcomed. Rooney says the need for masks is "greatest." However, masks need to match medical specifications -- homemade cloth masks are not adequate for health care workers.

Doctors and other health care providers are working closely with Winneshiek County Emergency Manager Coordinator Sean Snyder, keeping him updated about their supplies of PPEs. All requests to the State of Iowa for additional PPEs have to be funneled through the local Emergency Management office.