Gov. Inslee calls on businesses to manufacture supplies
Apr 1, 2020, 5:00 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2024, 7:11 am
Gov. Inslee on Wednesday, April 1.
on Wednesday put a call out to manufacturers in Washington state for help producing personal protection equipment (PPE) for heath care workers.
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鈥淭his is perhaps the decisive moment we are facing,鈥� Inslee said.
The governor said the state has distributed over a million units of personal protection equipment, but still needs more to fight this virus.
鈥淥ur nurses deserve to be protected,鈥� Inslee said. 鈥淥ur firefighters and police officers deserve to be protected.鈥�
The governor said the federal government has helped, particularly with the supply of ventilators, but cannot keep up with the demands of health care workers in Washington state. He鈥檚 calling on business leaders and manufacturers across the state to step up and help out with supplies.
Some of the supplies still needed include聽surgical masks, swab tests, saline solution, vials, N95 masks, gloves, surgical gowns, and face shields.
鈥淲e need to do now what we did in World War II,鈥� Inslee said, referring to the state building bombers and minesweepers. 鈥淎ll of us need to turn to manufacturing the equipment we need for this war,鈥� he added.
Inslee asks people who are interested in helping to visit聽v and look for the 鈥淗ow You Can Help鈥� button.
Dan Nordstrom of Outdoor Research joined Inslee to show his support of the call to local manufacturers. Nordstrom鈥檚 company has committed to sewing over 100,000 masks.
Inslee also said he鈥檚 called on the National Guard to support food banks across the state.
鈥淲e鈥檝e heard food banks need help, in part because volunteers fit the profile for those at potential risk,鈥� Inslee said. 鈥� 鈥� They鈥檙e not related to enforcement for the 鈥楽tay Home鈥� initiative.鈥�
As for the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, Inlsee said he can鈥檛 say for sure whether he鈥檒l seek an extension for the state.
