While the city of Wuhan in China may be the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak but its effects are reverberating around the globe not just because the infection has spread to other countries but also because there are a lot of expatriate Chinese who still have relatives in Hubei province where Wuhan is located.
This is why they have decided to take action by sending much-needed medical supplies back home using outbound baggage as can be seen here:
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Video credit: Rumble
Ying Yang currently lives in San Diego but is originally from Wuhan. “My two aunts, my two uncles, and all my friends are in Wuhan,” said Yang.
While they’re not sick, Yang is still worried. The flood of news about what is unfolding hasn’t helped. “I am heartbroken,” said Yang.
Yang’s friend Wei Qing is also concerned. “I feel so bad. I want to help,” said Qing.
Qing owns an online media company so she shared a video on Chinese social media asking what help he could give. The doctors who were on the frontlines replied that medical supplies, especially protective gear, are in short supply.
China may be the world’s manufacturing powerhouse but such a crisis is straining its capability to supply what’s needed.
“There are people suffering. Seeing doctors take their own risks by not wearing masks. You feel so frustrated,” said Qing.
Medical workers are suffering as much as the patients they are trying to treat with many going without breaks and even resorting to wearing adult diapers through 15-hour shifts. Qing also heard that a few even work sans masks or protective coveralls.
That’s why Yang, Qing, and about 20 other friends put the word out. Some of the supplies were donated by clinics while others were purchased by the group. They include N95 masks, face, shields, goggles, and coveralls. But the main challenge is how to ship them to Wuhan quickly. Regular shipping will take weeks to arrive.
Luckily, they found a UCSD exchange student on social media who was flying out to Beijing. He checked in two boxes with all the medical supplies the group gathered and will ship them through next-day delivery once he’s in China.
Another exchange student also volunteered to include donated medical supplies in his baggage. Part of the blame for the medical supply shortage is the shutdown of factories for the Chinese New Year.
The group is looking for more of the following supplies:
- Protective face masks for medical use like 3M N95 1860 or 9132 masks
- Surgical masks like ASTM F2100-II, level 2 or level 3 masks
- Protective coveralls like 3M 4565
- Fully sealed goggles and protective face shields
If you want to donate, call 858-956-5998 to arrange a drop-off.
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