HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania’s top health official says there's enough critical medical equipment in the state to meet current needs in hospitals. Monday afternoon Pennsylvania's health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the state has thousands of ICU beds and Ventilators and millions of masks.
But Lehigh Valley hospitals are still asking for homemade masks and many other supplies.
Speaking Monday afternoon, Pennsylvania's health secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, said while there are concerns about how spread virus may impact hospitals down the line, the state’s health care systems aren’t overwhelmed, right now.
“Currently there are 3400 licensed ICU beds in the state. Approx 40% of the ICU beds are available. In terms of ventilators, there are more than 2000 ventilators across the state within healthcare systems,” said Levine.
A trending social media campaign is asking people who can sew to make masks in their homes. But Dr. Levine said Monday the masks people are making may not be suitable for Pennsylvania's healthcare workers.
“So, although it is wonderful that people are trying to give their home masks to healthcare providers they are actually not the masks that will be most necessary,” said Levine.
Still, St. Luke’s University Health Network is asking people to bring in tight-woven fabric such as cotton, denim, canvas and twill, so it can make its own masks. This is in addition to other things it’s asking people to donate: gloves, goggles, hand sanitizer, Lysol and Clorox.
And Lehigh Valley Health Network is encouraging people to sew face masks at home. There are instructions on how to make them on their website - People can bring completed masks to its hospice center in Allentown.
