Photo courtesy of WCHC

Two local businesses recently helped provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to Washington County Hospital and Clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sitler’s LED Supplies and Washington State Bank donated 1,000 N95 masks to WCHC. Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen explains why that style of mask is particularly needed by healthcare workers, “We’ve got the N95 style mask, which is used a lot by healthcare providers as a way to filter out the germs from the outside getting in.”

Reisen adds that there are certain guidelines the Iowa Department of Public Health has established for those who are sewing masks at home. Click here for the IDPH’s recommendations. Reisen says that if anyone has masks or other PPE to donate to local healthcare providers or emergency officials, she can collect it and distribute it throughout the county.