Tesla Donates 500+ sets of PPE Masks & Gowns To Denver Hospital

Tesla donated 500+ sets of person protective equipment (PPE), which included masks and gowns to a local hospital in Denver. The EV automaker hasn’t said much about its donation, but it seems to have made an impact amongst the health care professionals who received it.

Tesla donation came to light when NBC News producer, Mac William Bishop, talked about it on Twitter. Bishop shared that his brother-in-law had convinced Tesla to donate 500+ sets of PPE to the hospital in Denver. Bishop’s sister happened to work at the Denver hospital as a surgeon in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“We are so grateful for some help from our community. If you know anyone who can donate PPE: masks, gowns, face shields, etc., please reach out! Otherwise, stay home for us!!,” Bishop’s sister said.

She says "We are so grateful for some help from our community. If you know anyone who can donate PPE: masks, gowns, face shields etc, please reach out! Otherwise stay home for us!!"

Now is the time for everyone to do whatever they can to support healthcare workers.#givemeppe

— Mac William Bishop (@MacWBishop) March 25, 2020

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, PPE shortages have lead health care providers in the United States to look for other ways to replenish supplies. For example, providers have started spreading tags like #GetMePPE on social media.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that N95 masks be strictly used during aerosol-generating procedures only. However, the CDC’s recommendation may increase the risk of exposure to health care providers.

According to the CDC’s official website, PPEs are the least effective way to control virus exposure to health care providers. However, given the current global crisis, it seems like the only solution left since patients need to be treated.

Unfortunately, Tesla’s 500+ sets of PPE will not last long, said Bishop. But the all-electric car maker’s efforts weren’t in vain. Health care providers need as many donations as they can get right now to help them combat the virus and keep their patients stable and alive.

Tesla is one of the many companies in the private sector willing to pull its weight during this current crisis. Besides donating 500+ sets of PPE, Tesla CEO Elon Musk also pledged to reopen Giga New York to produce much-needed ventilators for COVID-19 patients.

#HCPs: Today at 2pm ET log in to COCA Facebook profile or call in. COCA Call Topic: #COVID19 Update: Optimization Strategies for Healthcare Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Learn more about the event at https://t.co/lVZEjLOXmH. pic.twitter.com/8K0IaufKLI

— CDC (@CDCgov) March 25, 2020

It must be noted that the virus has a 2-14 day incubation period, meaning people infected with COVID-19 may not show systems until two days or two weeks later. As such, the gravity of the virus is yet to be determined.

As of this writing, the United States reportedly has more than 60,000 confirmed cases. New York state accounts for a little more than 50% of the cases with about 40,000 COVID-19 patients, and Governor Andrew Cuomo believes the apex of the pandemic is still about two weeks away. As such, action must be taken now to prevent the virus from spreading even further. It is no longer time to be reactive but proactive.

Featured Image Credit: @MacWBishop/Twitter