Eastern Health is working with Memorial University, Taskforce NL and others on the testing and manufacture of Health Canada-certified, locally-produced face shields and gowns.

It will be the first time medical gowns will be developed in this province, in addition to the recent approval of face shields as a Class I device, according to the health authority.

DF Barnes has been contracted to oversee and manage the manufacturing effort along with TaskforceNL.

Eastern Health and its partners are continuing to work to meet Health Canada standards for other types of PPE.

The new supply is in addition to face shields now being used in the system, produced by PolyUnity.