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Whatcom County health-care workers and firefighters have about a week’s supply of masks, gowns, gloves and safety glasses or face shields to protect them and their patients against the new coronavirus, according to a briefing at the Bellingham City Council meeting on Monday night.
But that could change if there’s a surge in new cases, officials said.
Officials at Whatcom Unified Command are asking local doctors, dentists and veterinarians in private practice to donate these items if they have more than they need.
Unified command is working to order more supplies of this personal protective equipment, or PPE, and is asking private doctors, dentists and veterinarians to order from their regular suppliers too.
Members of the public are donating these items as well.
And those with sewing ability are making cloth masks from templates available online.
It’s just been really impressive,” Mayor Seth Fleetwood said in praising the efforts of the unified command, city workers and the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic threat.
Whatcom Unified Command is a quasi-governmental agency created to streamline how local agencies react in times of crisis or natural disaster.
It has the power to make decisions regarding pandemic response after taking recommendations from a policy group of local elected leaders.
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