As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeps the nation, there has been an urgency to distribute enough protective gear to hospitals and healthcare workers treating infected patients.
Face masks and gowns are among the most requested items by doctors and nurses that will allow them to properly care for patients without putting themselves at risk. While the situation has improved in some states, the need for this equipment is still crucial for most of the country.
A few notable companies in recent days have helped the cause, with the likes of Apple, Facebook and Tesla each donating hundreds of thousands of masks to various hospitals.
Fanatics, a company that manufactures MLB merchandise, has also joined in on the act by using raw materials from jerseys to create masks and gowns, via Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com:
“The COVID-19 crisis has compelled our country to be more collaborative, innovative and strategic than ever before,” Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin said. “As the demand for masks and gowns has surged, we’re fortunate to have teamed up with Major League Baseball to find a unique way to support our frontline workers in this fight to stem the virus, who are in dire need of essential resources.”
Fanatics has temporarily stopped producing jerseys in its Pennsylvania plant, and instead, will create up to a million masks and gowns until the coronavirus situation improves.
The initial batch of masks and gowns have derived from the jerseys of the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, with each team’s respective pinstripes visible on the equipment.
The plan is to quickly ship these masks and gowns to some of the most affected areas in the country, including New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“We hope this effort can play a part in coming together as a community to help us through this challenging situation,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
“I’m proud that Major League Baseball can partner with Fanatics to help support the brave healthcare workers and emergency personnel who are on the front lines of helping patients with COVID-19. They are truly heroes.”
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