PHOENIX — A shipment containing hundreds of thousands of pieces of protective medical gear arrived in Arizona Saturday as the state continues to work towards containing the coronavirus outbreak.
Gov. Doug Ducey says the shipment of medical supplies arrived from the Strategic National Stockpile. It includes:
• 60,900 N95 masks
• 244,000 surgical face masks
• 26,208 face shields
• 22,200 surgical gowns
• 102 coveralls
• Nearly 90,000 sets of gloves.
The gear will help Arizona doctors and nurses better treat all patients while protecting themselves from COVID-19.
“Arizona is working to keep our health professionals safe,” Ducey said. “We are working to get these supplies where they are needed as soon as possible.
The state is still suffering from a lack of coronavirus test kits, and health officials say they’re only able to test patients showing the most severe symptoms or who are in the most vulnerable demographic, people older than 60 or with existing health conditions.
The first death connected to the virus was announced Friday in Maricopa County, and the number of confirmed cases grew to 104 people the next day.
Phoenix and numerous other counties and cities declared a state of emergency, with some ordering restaurants and other public spaces be restricted to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Health officials say the measure is meant to keep the number of new patients at a manageable level while worldwide research for a vaccine continues.
