Pictured above are two types of standard use masks used by medical professionals at Memorial Hospital. The Memorial Board of Trustees learned Thursday night that the most vulnerable aspect of local coronavirus preparedness could be the supply lines for basic medical devices like masks and gowns, which primarily come from China. (Photo submitted)
While many medical professionals are keeping an eye on the research room for an answer to the coronavirus outbreak, Memorial Hospital Medical Director Vic Trianfo’s focus is on the storeroom.
Trianfo told Memorial’s Board of Trustees and senior leadership team Thursday night that locally, the supply of masks, gowns and medical drape cloth could become a concern if the outbreak makes its way to Union County.
“We are looking for alternatives pathways to obtain materials,” Trianfo said.
After emerging in China, the virus has infected more than 82,000 worldwide and lead to the death of 2,800. There have been about 60 cases in the United States and while none are in Ohio, about 200 Buckeye State residents have been asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves.
The outbreak occurred in one of the worst possible locations on the globe in terms of impacting the supply lines for low-cost, throw away materials used to safeguard medical professionals.
Trianfo said one of the areas hardest hit by the virus is also home to one of the largest global supply companies for medical supplies. According to a recent Time report, Chinese mask makers were only operating at 75 percent capacity in February despite surging demand. Time reports that China’s maximum output for masks alone is 20 million units per day, which is far less than that country now needs for its own workers.
The report said retailers on numerous continents are running out of medical masks, leading to a price surge for supplies that remain.
Trianfo said Memorial has a sufficient supply of such devices on hand to meet normal hospital operations. But if the virus appears locally, there could be issues.
Trianfo said when outbreaks occur, medical professionals who are virus-free must be able to treat individuals who are infected. To do this, the supplies must be on hand to keep personnel as protected as possible.
Trianfo said the buying consortium Memorial belongs to is looking at alternative suppliers outside of China. Even if Chinese production facilities ramp up output, it is likely they will look to meet the needs in their own country before supplying the rest of the world, Trianfo said.
The medical director said despite the widespread attention the virus is getting, situationally it’s not a new threat. He said staff at the hospital receive education and have plans in place to deal with potential pandemics, whether it be SARS in 2003 or H1N1 in 2009.
“We have always had this (training) in the background,” Trianfo said.
He said the hospital works in concert with the Ohio Department of Health and the Union County Health Department to stay informed of any potential outbreaks. Researchers are working on a vaccine for the virus, he said.
Trianfo explained a vaccine likely won’t be found in time to impact the current outbreak, but could be useful to stop a potential reoccurrence across the globe.
Memorial Hospital Human Resources Department Director Larry Schleeter asked if the attention placed on the virus is exaggerated, when compared to the number of people affected by the regular, seasonal flu.
“Are we overreacting to this?” Schleeter said. “It just seems like we are panicking.”
It was noted that the seasonal flu proves fatal to .1% of those contracting it while coronavirus is tracking at about a 3% mortality rate.
“It demands our attention,” Trianfo said.