NANAIMO – A new COVID-19 Supply Hub is connecting needed medical supplies to support front-line health care workers, and local MLAs Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley are encouraging Nanaimo companies to assist.
“Making sure our health care professionals in Nanaimo and across B.C. have the personal protective equipment they need to fight COVID-19 is vitally important,” said Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. “The COVID-19 Supply Hub will help businesses partner with the province to ensure a coordinated response.”
“We all have a part to play in fighting COVID-19 and I’m pleased our government has made it easier for businesses in Nanaimo to help out,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “The COVID-19 Supply Hub will help make sure health care professionals have the equipment they need when they need it.”
The COVID-19 Supply Hub is an online platform to co-ordinate, source and expedite medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for provincial health authorities to support front-line health workers fighting COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Supply Hub provides a single point of entry to triage and prioritize the thousands of offers and donations for essential supplies from business and other organizations since the onset of the COVID-19 response.
Malcolmson says some companies in Nanaimo have already shifted activities to produce medical supplies. “Nanaimo companies have already joined the fight against COVID-19,” said Malcolmson. “For example, VMAC, a Nanaimo manufacturer of air compressors, is helping the hospital by using their 3D Printers to produce components for face shields.
Companies looking to offer support or supplies through the COVID-19 Supply Hub can access it here: www.gov.bc.ca/supplyhub.
Quick Facts:
* More information regarding today’s COVID 19 Supply Hub announcement can be found here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/21928
* The Provincial Supply Coordination Unit was established under the provincial state of emergency to support the Province’s response and recovery to COVID-19.
* The COVID-19 Supply Hub is complementary to existing provincial procurement streams in order to expedite medical supplies under the provincial state of emergency. The supply hub will work in co-ordination with other provincial and federal initiatives to secure medical and other essential supplies.
* COVID-19 Supply Hub partners: the Business Council of British Columbia, the Digital Technology Supercluster, Salesforce, Traction on Demand, the Provincial Health Services Authority, the Ministry of Citizens’ Services, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness.
* The Digital Technology Supercluster is led by global companies such as MDA, Microsoft, Telus, Teck Resources Limited, Mosaic Forest Management, LifeLabs and Terramera, and B.C.’s tech industry leaders such as D-Wave Systems, Finger Food Advanced Technology Group, and LlamaZOO. Members also include the Province of British Columbia and B.C. post-secondary institutions. A full list of members can be found here: https://www.digitalsupercluster.ca/members-2/
Learn More:
For the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and planning materials, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza.
For more information and latest medical updates on COVID-19, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit its website: http://www.bccdc.ca/
For more information on non-medical issues like travel recommendations and how to manage social isolation, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/COVID-19