Health workers short of protective equipment, says WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that there is a shortage of PPE (personal protection equipment) for health workers because of the coronavirus outbreak. Some suppliers have inflated prices for PPE used to protect health workers from the virus.

Demand for health workers’ PPE is about 100 times greater than normal at the moment. The director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom, said:

“Global stocks are now insufficient to meet the needs of WHO and its partners.”

Some locations have been stockpiling PPE equipment, but Adhanom says that where virus risks are low, stockpiling is not necessary. He adds that the private and public sector need to cooperate to make sure that PPE needed to protect people from the virus is given to those at the frontline in the fight against the coronavirus.

Many members of the public in China and elsewhere have bought face masks to protect themselves from the virus. Experts advise that outside of the Hubei Province of China, this is probably unnecessary. Nonetheless, those fearful of the virus experience peace of mind when wearing their mask.

Surgical and nuisance dust masks will not provide protection against the virus.