Gov. Inslee calls on businesses to manufacture supplies

Gov. Inslee on Wednesday put a call out to manufacturers in Washington state for help producing personal protection equipment (PPE) for heath care workers.

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“This is perhaps the decisive moment we are facing,” Inslee said.

The governor said the state has distributed over a million units of personal protection equipment, but still needs more to fight this virus.

“Our nurses deserve to be protected,” Inslee said. “Our firefighters and police officers deserve to be protected.”

The governor said the federal government has helped, particularly with the supply of ventilators, but cannot keep up with the demands of health care workers in Washington state. He’s calling on business leaders and manufacturers across the state to step up and help out with supplies.

Some of the supplies still needed include surgical masks, swab tests, saline solution, vials, N95 masks, gloves, surgical gowns, and face shields.

“We need to do now what we did in World War II,” Inslee said, referring to the state building bombers and minesweepers. “All of us need to turn to manufacturing the equipment we need for this war,” he added.

Inslee asks people who are interested in helping to visit coronavirus.wa.gov and look for the “How You Can Help” button.

Dan Nordstrom of Outdoor Research joined Inslee to show his support of the call to local manufacturers. Nordstrom’s company has committed to sewing over 100,000 masks.

Inslee also said he’s called on the National Guard to support food banks across the state.

“We’ve heard food banks need help, in part because volunteers fit the profile for those at potential risk,” Inslee said. ” … They’re not related to enforcement for the ‘Stay Home’ initiative.”

As for the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, Inlsee said he can’t say for sure whether he’ll seek an extension for the state.

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