OPG donating over half a million masks to support frontline COVID-19 crisis
TORONTO, March 25, 2020 /CNW/ - Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is donating 500,000 surgical masks and 75,000 N95 masks to the Province of Ontario to address the pressing need for personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The world is facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis that requires the mobilization and participation of every individual and every business in this country," said Ken Hartwick, OPG's President and CEO. "As the province's largest electricity generator, OPG has a responsibility to not only keep the lights on for families, hospitals and essential businesses during this critical time, but also a social responsibility to do everything we can to help meet our communities' most vital health care needs. Together we will power on."
"As Ontario continues to confront the growing challenge of COVID-19, we will do everything we can to protect our frontline heroes," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "I want to thank OPG for this extremely generous donation, which will support our ongoing and extensive efforts to secure the supplies and protective equipment."
"We face extraordinary challenges as Ontario and the world responds to COVID-19. I thank OPG for their leadership and commitment to protecting Ontarians by making this donation of supplies for our frontline health care workers. We must all work together during this critical time," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs.
OPG is coordinating delivery of a shipment of 250,000 surgical and 50,000 N95 masks this week to the Ministry of Health for distribution to hospitals, long-term care homes and any other essential health-care providers in the most-needed areas of the province. OPG is maintaining a quantity of 250,000 surgical and 15,000 N95 masks for future donation where needs are greatest.
Separately, this week OPG is also donating 5,000 N95 masks and 10,000 surgical masks each directly to Scarborough Health Network (SHN) and Lakeridge Health in Oshawa as well as 10 powered air purifying respirators (PAPDs) to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto to meet an urgent need.
"Our heroes need our help. In facing this critical need for personal protective equipment to fight COVID-19, all of us at Scarborough Health Network are deeply grateful to OPG for sharing these precious resources. This donation will help keep our health-care workers safe while they are busy delivering exceptional care to our patients and their families, and we are grateful to the SHN Foundation team for partnering with us to secure these donations for our hospitals," said Elizabeth Buller, President and CEO, Scarborough Health Network. "From the bottom of our hearts, we thank OPG for their lifesaving generosity and admirable leadership during these challenging circumstances."
The donated masks were part of OPG's inventory of personal protective equipment for its workers as part of its robust emergency preparedness and response plan. The plan includes the pre-purchase and storage of pandemic supplies. OPG's inventory exceeds its needs at this time and as a result, the organization is able to share some of its supplies with the Ontario government for health-care priorities.
OPG will continue to maintain a healthy reserve of surgical and N95 masks for its critical workers who continue to work every day to keep the lights on for Ontarians.
Learn more about OPG's efforts against the spread of COVID-19 here.
OPG is the largest electricity generator in the province, providing almost half of the power Ontarians rely on every day. It is also one of the most diverse generators in North America, with expertise in nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, solar and natural gas technologies.
SOURCE Ontario Power Generation Inc.
OPG Media Relations, 416-592-4008 or 1-877-592-4008, Follow us @opg
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