As alleged by the healthcare unions, the shortage was mainly due to the sudden spike in the number of Covid-19 patients reported within a short period of time. Mediwatta stressed that there was a severe shortage of PPE such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons. “Hospitals are overflowing with Covid-19 patients, and they are everywhere. This poses a huge risk to healthcare workers as well. If this issue is not remedied, the PPE shortage would leave doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for Covid-19 patients, he claimed.

Source: The Nation August 07, 2021 18:00 UTC