Massachusetts asks for equipment donations and volunteers to join coronavirus fight

The Baker-Polito Administration announced Sunday a new online portal where people can donate personal protective equipment and sign up to volunteer to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts.

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) – The Baker-Polito Administration announced Sunday a new online portal where people and businesses can donate or sell personal protective equipment and sign up to volunteer to fight the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts.

Governor Charlie Baker said the state has already received many donations of equipment, but the portal will make it easier to distribute the supplies to those in need.

The supplies needed are:

• N95/N99 respirator masks and surgical masks
• Powered air-purifying respirators
• Facemasks with shields
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Protective suits/gowns
• Headcovers and shoe covers
• Sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer

“We also need more volunteers to help support our response to this unprecedented public health emergency, and urge people to sign up to lend a hand. Our administration will continue making every effort to secure supplies from all possible resources to support our front line workers during these tough times,” said Governor Baker.

The Governor has partnered with the Massachusetts Medical Society to match health and medical volunteers with health care providers, and have set up a sign-up form here.

The state said there is an immediate need for respiratory therapists and public health nurses.

“The hope is, for example, the respiratory therapists would be able to come in and help work with the ventilators, help with any kind of breathing machines. Our nurses would be able to take care of patients on the front lines to be able to care for them, whether it be in the outpatient setting or skilled nursing facilities or in the hospitals,” said Dr. Maryanne Bombaugh, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

Since launching, Dr. Bombaugh said, more than 1,200 volunteers have registered.

“Our workforce is tired. They’re certainly working not only in the hospitals and the outpatient practices but there’s a lot of telemedicine going on. Thank you to the volunteers that can come in and give a reprieve and help these healthcare workers hopefully get a little bit of rest and be able to come back and keep doing this.”

Those who have had any contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 are urged to not sign up to volunteer.

Volunteers must provide their own transportation, and will be contacted when/if they are needed.

© WLNE-TV 2020