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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe state is working with 15 Indiana companies to purchase personal protective gear for health care professionals responding to the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Monday.
Luke Bosso, chief of staff for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., said during Monday’s media briefing that the state has purchased 1.9 million pieces of PPE so far for $5.5 million. The acquisitions include 1 million face masks, 763,000 face shields, 141,000 gloves, 68,000 gowns, 10,000 pairs of goggles and 6,700 bottles of hand sanitizer.
The items are coming from 15 companies across the state that are producing the equipment and supplies, including Williams Distribution and Fatheadz Eyewear in Indianapolis.
“These Indiana businesses have stepped up in a big way to make PPE,” Bosso said.
Several businesses have also agreed to donate 440,000 pieces of PPE to the state. Some of those businesses include the Indianapolis Colts, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Westfield Outdoors, Subaru of Indiana Automotive and Acclaims Graphics.
State officials are distributing items daily with the help of the Indiana National Guard and the Indiana Department of Transportation, Bosso said. So far, more than 375,000 items have been distributed.
And the state expects to continue adding partnerships with businesses. Bosso encouraged any business that is already making these items or would like to start doing so to contact state officials by emailing covidresponse@iedc.in.gov.
“Every day the team at the IEDC is in contact with more companies who can help fight this virus,” Bosso said.
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