Fingal County Council plays its part to fight COVID-19 with three initiatives to supply Personal Protective Equipment

Fingal County Council has supported the efforts of healthcare workers at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic with a donation of vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and two initiatives to support PPE production.

The issue of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one that has arisen in recent weeks as doctors, nurses and care staff tend to patients in our hospitals and other care facilities.

In response to the urgent requirement for PPE, Fingal County Council recently donated over 30,000 pieces of PPE to Beaumont Hospital.

The consignment comprised of face masks and protective suits which has provided vital protection for staff caring for those most in need of medical attention. It was greatly appreciated by hospital staff who said they had been overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and support shown to them by the public and other public sectors.

Fingal County Council was also pleased to donate raw materials that will be used to create PPE face shields for frontline workers.

A group of volunteers from across Ireland are putting their skills to use creating 3D-printed plastic visors which can be worn over normal glasses and facemasks for an added layer of defence.

Local 3D printing volunteer Paul Quinn is creating face shields with A4 acetate sheets the Council has donated. These face shields have been delivered to the National Ambulance Service in Swords and will be distributed around the country as needed.

Fingal Libraries have also answered the call to help out, with Blanchardstown Library supplying two 3D printers to SurfBox along with libraries in Kildare, South Dublin and Kilkenny. Blanchardstown Library’s contribution will increase Surfbox’s production of face shields.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien said: “We have all seen the huge shipments of PPE arriving on flights from China in recent days and hope that this, along with the substantial donation from Fingal County Council, will assist all the front-line medical staff working so tremendously hard in the most trying of current circumstances. We wish them good health and all the very best in their endeavours.”

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council AnnMarie Farrelly said: “We are pleased to be able to play a role in supplying vital protective equipment to frontline workers who are facing the COVID-19 pandemic every day.

“This is a national collective effort and Fingal County Council is proud to share in the actions and initiatives needed to protect lives and support each other – we are all in this together.”