The Directorate of Health has asked everyone with stored contamination equipment to contact Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Sør-Øst) as soon as possible. Already there has been a good response.
At Saturday’s press conference, Assistant Health Director Espen Nakstad pointed out that a dental clinic in Oslo has donated 600 facemasks to the National Hospital (Rikshospitalet).
He says that companies and others will contribute to combatting the “national contagion threat.”
“We currently have enough contamination equipment, but if we look at the days ahead, we are dependent on both getting more in and getting the consumption reduced further,” says Nakstad.
Helse Sør-Øst has been given a national coordination responsibility for the procurement of contamination equipment and medicines in connection with the coronavirus outbreak.
“We are still getting supplies, but consumption is increasing. That is why we now ask everyone with their own stocks of contamination equipment to contribute,” says Cathrine M. Lofthus, CEO of Helse Sør-Øst.
Dentists’ offices, veterinarians and skincare salons may include potential contributors.
Companies can contact the health authorities at .
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
Health personnel should have absolute priority for facemasks, but EVERYONE should be wearing even homemade facemasks, as they did in China and South Korea so successfully. (I have made the case for this in my comment under Norway Today’s article for King Harald’s speech.)
I have my (bleach-washable) pillowcase, but here’s a make-it-yourself article which may be useful: http://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200321-things-to-do-under-coronavirus-lockdown-make-your-own-face-mask-to-ease-shortage-health-workers-covid-19
This is just starting in Norway, and *preventive* measures must be taken NOW, before it really takes off and overwhelms our health people and hospitals who are indeed at grave risk.
I have also seen an article that isopropyl alcohol can disinfect disposable professional/medical masks, but that should be confirmed by health authorities.
Hang in there, everyone.