Mask, equipment shortages push nurses to brink
As the worst viral outbreak in a century has infected a half-million and killed more than 18,000 Americans as of Saturday, hospitals are trying to stretch limited supplies by requiring nurses and health workers reuse masks and gowns normally discarded after a single use. Unions say such measures put healthcare employees and patients at risk. Daily Comet (Thibodaux, La.)
Ford, 3M to cooperate on manufacture of respirators
Ford has designated 90 of its employees to work with 3M and begin assembling 100,000 powered air-purifying respirators at the automaker’s Vreeland plant in Michigan. The companies started working together as automakers’ closed down their vehicle assembly lines because of the coronavirus epidemic and were looking for ways to help get needed products to front-line workers. Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Oregon agencies to address coronavirus in long-term care facilities
The Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority announced Saturday the creation of a support team that will assess the needs of long-term care facilities with increased coronavirus cases. The two agencies said they have entered a data sharing arrangement, allowing them to better monitor coronavirus cases within care facilities statewide and to share updates with the public. KLCC (Eugene, Ore.)
New Jersey closes all non-essential construction projects
Gov. Phil Murphy last week issued an executive order that requires the closure of all non-essential construction projects. The order does not define “non-essential construction project” but instead provides a list of site types that may continue to operate, including transportation and utility projects, writes attorney Jennifer Rygiel-Boyd, of counsel, Ogletree Deakins. National Law Review
Employee advocates target Amazon site near Minneapolis
An advocacy group is calling for Amazon to temporarily close its Shakopee, Minnesota fulfillment center for a deep clean after a doctor identified a likely COVID-19 case among employees. Employees at dozens of the company’s facilities nationwide test have positive for COVID-19, but on Friday, the company said it did not know of any workers in Minnesota who had confirmed cases. The company is now disseminating face masks to warehouses for employees to wear. Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Some Nebraska meat plant employees face economic pressure to work during outbreak
Employees of a Grand Island, Nebraska beef processing plant are having to confront whether they should expose themselves to the coronavirus at work, or stay home without pay. A spokesperson for JBS says the company is not pushing employees to come in while sick or punishing them for missing work. NBC News [with video]
Fed-OSHA investigates fatal fall outside Boston
Fed-OSHA is investigating after a 42-year-old man fell to his death from the roof of a four-story office building roof in Framingham, Massachusetts on Saturday. MetroWest Daily News