"We want to reiterate that we are ... continuing to look for medical supplies,'' Tim Dudley, the county’s emergency management director, said earlier this week.
The county is accepting the donations at the former Sears Automotive shop at 250 Westshore Plaza in Tampa. Volunteers staff the site 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
The county is seeking gloves, face shields and masks, including homemade masks. The donated equipment will be used in local hospitals, nursing centers, assisted-living facilities or other sites needing to protect people dealing with COVID-19.
Earlier calls for donations resulted in contributions of more than 60,000 pairs of gloves, 10,000 surgical masks, and 2,000 face shields.
"These supplies can help save lives,'' Dudley said. "They help protect those on the front lines of this pandemic and can help prevent the virus from spreading.''
Medical schools, dental clinics, elective surgery centers, private vendors, residents and others are asked to donate: impervious gowns, face shields, surgical masks, N95 masks, Tyvek suits and exam gloves. The equipment must be new, medical grade personal protection equipment still in the box. All sizes are needed.
The county also is accepting homemade masks produced in accordance with the most recent CDC guidelines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html. The homemade masks will be distributed to non-clinical staff and patients.
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