California Medical Workers Protest Hospital’s Restrictions on Mask Use (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Tens of nurses and medical workers at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, California, staged a protest Friday calling for easier access to N95 masks and other personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
The nurses say the hospital seems to have plenty of gear but is imposing overly restrictive requirements for them to access it. They worry that could put them in danger of contracting the novel coronavirus.
The nurses marched outside the hospital and called on hospital leaders to allow all nurses to easily access N95 masks and face shields.
The hospital said any staff member who wishes to wear a mask is able to do so, but said they are also attempting to conserve supplies of personal protective equipment, KCBS-TV reported.
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
More than 1,013,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 globally, as the death toll surpassed 53,000, according to the data from Johns Hopkins University early on Friday.
More than 210,000 people have recovered from the disease, including 9,000 in the US.
