Schreiner statement on possible PPE shortage

April 6, 2020

TORONTO — Mike Schreiner issued the following statement about the remaining supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Ontario:

QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner issued the following statement about the remaining supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Ontario:

“This pandemic has exposed major flaws in our emergency preparedness that must be fixed in the long-term, but the urgent priority is getting PPE into the hands of health care workers.

Running out of essential safety gear cannot be an option, and we must absolutely avoid a scenario in which ICU nurses are forced to use scarves or bandanas.

We must protect our frontline health care staff so they are able to care for us.

I appreciate the close cooperation between the Premier and Prime Minister to secure an exemption from the US export ban and to deliver PPE shipments as quickly as possible.

I urge the Premier to exhaust all of his emergency powers to secure the PPE that we need while we wait for shipments to come in and for local manufacturers to ramp up production.

If we are facing a shortage, then health officials must also develop a plan to prioritize PPE for the most vulnerable health care workers in our hospitals and long-term care homes.”

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