'I worry about bringing the virus back': Frontline health workers demand proper protection

Mar. 30--Pennsylvania health care workers say the personal protective equipment shortage is putting their lives -- and many others' -- at significant risk across the commonwealth.

Union health care workers, joined by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, shared these concerns on a Monday call as COVID-19 cases swell here and nationwide. Participants demanded the federal government provide medical professionals with more N95 respirators, masks, gowns and gloves as they work to mitigate the coronavirus' spread.

A new survey released by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology found that nearly half of U.S. health care facilities of various types are already or almost out of respirators for treating patients. Of the nearly 12,000 respondents to rank their facilities' supply of personal protective equipment, 20 percent reported having no protective respirators, nearly half said their centers lack sufficient face shields and about 32 percent reported being completely or nearly out of face masks.

Another 30 percent had accessed supplemental equipment through state or local resources, while 24.6 percent said they accepted private donations.

"These workers put their lives on the line," said Matthew Yarnell, president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, the state's largest healthcare union. "They're calling on the Trump administration and industry employers to find common sense solutions to increase the supply of PPE. Without action, they are endangering the ability to keep themselves, their patients and the larger community safe."

SEIU Healthcare is asking Trump's administration to use the Defense Production Act of 1950 to ramp-up the production of vital protection equipment. As part of the $2 trillion stimulus bill passed by Congress last week, a billion dollars was allocated to address the equipment shortages, Casey said. Other solutions could include accessing remaining equipment held in the Strategic National Stockpile and identifying reserves from other industries, including construction, and redistributing to providers. Hospitals fear the demand for ventilators will soon outpace supply, too.

"We're the most powerful country in the world," Casey said. "We can provide enough PPE, but that requires a full commitment from the federal government and it's not clear yet whether or not the full commitment will be there."

Crystal Patterson, a home care attendant from Washington, Pa., is particularly concerned about the lack of PPE and its challenges on home care aides in the midst of a pandemic. Her son was born with extra space between his rib cage and lungs, leaving him susceptible to upper respiratory infection.

"My client is bed bound," she said. "If he catches the virus, I will still care for him as long as he remains in his home. I use public transportation to travel to and from work and, at the moment, I'm unable to be tested. Symptoms can take at least five days to appear. That's five days while I still go to work, ride the bus and go to the store. Everyday I go to work, I worry about bringing the virus back and infecting him because we're low on equipment."

A licensed practical nurse identified as Donna said three of her coworkers have tested positive for COVID-19 at the nursing home she works at in northeastern Pennsylvania. Still, she's often told by management to reuse insufficient paper masks and store them in a paper bag between uses. The average age of her residents is above 80 years old, putting her and her coworkers, and their families, at a greater risk of exposure.

"I've been a nurse for over 33 years and never in my life did I expect to be facing something like this pandemic," she said. "It's frightening. As frontline workers, we are fighting against an invisible enemy and, yet, so little is being done to protect us."

She said the home now relies on masks sewn and donated from resident's family members, even if it provides very little real protection.

"That was the first mask I received," she said. "It should not be her burden to worry about our protection."

Zachary Shamberg, Pennsylvania Healthcare Association president, said many in the state have already been forced to get creative with protective gear.

"We have reached out to several other associations in Pennsylvania whose membership has been affected," he said. "We're asking them to donate supplies.Those associations and their members have been fantastic."

Gov. Tom Wolf announced last week that he will spend up to $50 million in transferred state funding to purchase medical equipment and supplies for hospitals, nursing homes and emergency workers to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We need more beds, more ventilators, more personal protective equipment, and so much more and we need it as soon as possible because the virus is here," Wolf said.

Members also addressed President Donald Trump's recent comments suggesting people may be stealing masks from hospitals and creating the shortage. Many medical professionals nationwide felt Trump was accusing them of theft amid calls to urgently replenish the country's equipment.

"If they are hoarding, it's because they're scared due to such short supply," Donna said.

On Monday, there were 4,087 COVID-19 cases in 59 counties.

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