UCSC scientists round-up supplies for local doctors to combat COVID-19
University of Santa Cruz scientists are donating protective medical supplies to local hospitals facing shortages.
UC Santa Cruz molecular biologist Bill Sullivan said his doctor called him Wednesday morning, asking if the university had any extra equipment.
"He was quite concerned. He said it was basically urgent, and he specifically wanted goggles," Sullivan said.
"The phone rang at about 7:30 this morning and it was Bill's doctor," Bill's wife and member of the UCSC Genomics Institute Ann Pace said. "He basically wanted to speak with Bill about needing supplies for the health care workers that are dealing with the COVID-19 patients."
The two started emailing labs at the University and received immediate feedback.
"The response was overwhelming,like right away people wanted to help. I heard back from somebody in five minutes," Pace said.
In just a couple of hours, the two had a trove of protective medical equipment from 10 different research labs on campus.
Plastic face coverings, 150-200 goggles, and 1,600 latex gloves filled the back of Sullivan's truck.
"There's a real sense of we need to be doing something. We need to be doing something significant," Pace said.
"It's a tough time because the labs are closed, so very few people are here," Sullivan said. "I think it's very impressive that the very few people here just hopped on it."
Shortages can be seen across the country,including at one Washington state hospital where staff members are now making their own masks out of supplies from a craft store.
President Donald Trump signed the Defense Production Act, which has its origins in the War Powers Acts of World War II and granted the executive branch broad powers to direct industrial production for the war effort.
The law authorizes the president to control the production and distribution of scarce materials deemed "essential to the national defense."
"There's never been an instance like this where no matter what you have, it's not enough," Trump said at a press conference Wednesday referring to medical equipment.
Sullivan and Pace recognize the need and are trying to play a role in helping out.
"A lot of us want to feel like we want to be part of helping," Pace said.
"This isn't going to be over in a week, so we have to think long-term about how to keep the supplies going and things like that," Sullivan said.
The pair said they would work with the university to create a system and a place for people to donate items.