The Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador has launched an email campaign to get the province to boost its guidelines on what should be considered standard protective equipment for health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19.
Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, and British Columbia have all updated their guidelines for PPE for Health Care workers and the RNU wants to see the same done here.
Union President Debbie Forward says the fit-tested, N-95 mask should be standard equipment in COVID units and other areas of the hospital.
That includes ICUs and Emergency Departments, and should be worn all the time.
An email campaign was launched on Friday asking the public to send a message to the provincial government expressing support for health care workers and ensuring they have access to proper PPE.
It has already generated some 2000 emails.
In the meantime, the province recently secured a shipment of PPE, after encountering problems procuring needed equipment. Volunteer efforts are also underway within the business community to secure or manufacture personal protective equipment that meets Canadian standards.