Can The U.S. Crowdsource Its Way Out Of A Mask Shortage? No, But It Still Helps

Can The U.S. Crowdsource Its Way Out Of A Mask Shortage? No, But It Still Helps

Maria Louviaux, a clinical nurse at UCI Medical Center in Orange County, Calif., says she and her colleagues are being told to severely limit the use of masks to conserve, and if they’re not soiled or damaged — to reuse them. “It makes us feel very unsafe,” Louviaux says. “… A spokesman for UCI Health, John Murray, says conserving personal protective equipment is prudent planning in case things get worse. “Given uncertainty about future availability of these supplies, UCI Health and medical centers across the University of California Health System have adopted safe conservation protocols consistent with CDC and OSHA guidance for appropriate PPE use,” Murray wrote in an email.