As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to increase, public safety and health officials are concerned about depleting stockpiles of personal protective equipment for first responders and healthcare workers. “We always will need more,” said Meriden Fire Chief Ken Morgan. “We’re burning through it a lot faster than we normally would.” Midway through the week, Morgan’s department had sufficient supplies of N95 medical masks and Tyvek protective suits, but was running short of respiratory aid equipment, like breathing tanks.
“Fortunately we can decontaminate them. Those are a reusable type item,” he said. Morgan noted the department is trying to reuse protective suits as much as possible. But at some point, those would need to be replaced, as well.