Apple donates thousands of face shields to Los Angeles health workers

LOS ANGELES, CA — Doctors, nurses and other health care workers around Los Angeles will be receiving new personal protective equipment, thanks to a donation of 160,000 new face shields, courtesy of Apple Inc.

As the Port of Los Angeles confirms, Apple is giving the shields to Logistics Victory Los Angeles, a new emergency program set up by the city to gather donations of personal protective equipment, or PPE, and give it to local hospitals who need it most. The program was set up in March to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. It is staffed by 18 city employees and headed by Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka.

The Port says the donations come at a critical time: like many cities suffering PPE shortages, health care workers across Los Angeles are reporting serious supply shortages, saying they are low on masks, gowns, ventilators and more.

Though the 160,000 new masks from Apple will be an immense help, Logistics Victory Los Angeles is still accepting donations. They say they welcome monetary donations and donations of medical supplies, but they’ll also help teach garment or apparel manufacturers to make non-medical masks for donation. You can find out more about their work and how to donate here.

Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles remains fully open despite the pandemic, and right now is serving as the home of the Naval hospital ship the USNS Mercy.