‘This type of hoarding has created massive shortages in hospitals leaving doctors, nurses and health workers dangerously ill-equipped to take care of patients and protect themselves.’

With medical workers and local hospitals facing an acute shortage of gloves and masks amid the coronavirus outbreak, vegan makeup mogul Kat von D donated her shop’s entire supply of medical-grade gloves and aprons to L.A. County Hospital.

Posting a message on Instagram on Thursday, the vegan tattooist wrote; “Today, my tattoo shop @highvoltagetat donated our entire inventory of unopened gloves and aprons to the nurses and doctors of the LA County Hospital.

“We only had 8,000 gloves, and 500 of our medical grade aprons — but due to the unnecessary hoarding of medical supplies taking place by relatively healthy, yet panicked citizens, this type of hoarding has created massive shortages in hospitals leaving doctors, nurses and health workers dangerously ill-equipped to take care of patients and protect themselves.”

She added her public message was not to seek praise but intended to encourage other tattooists to do the same and urge people to “PLEASE STOP HOARDING.”

“If you are a tattoo shop that has existing inventory of medical supplies, please consider donating as well.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-NWHKLloFU

Acute Shortage

With an Insider report highlighting how nurses had to use torn masks and reused gear while attending to patients, Von D’s post had a huge outpouring of grateful messages from the medical fraternity.

“On behalf of my family (including 1 dr 3 nurses 1 police offer and 1 death care professional who are all essentials) THANK YOU,” wrote one user.

“My sis is an ER nurse and she’s having to reuse her N95 mask. Thankfully people are making masks they can change the filter out every patient and take home and wash every day. This is so wonderful and hopefully others stand up and do the same,” commented another,

“This just made me weep. I work in healthcare alongside some very brave nurses and doctors and caretakers. Thank you. I wish and hope for more like you. ?” added a third.

‘Support these heroes’

 A number of celebrities and philanthropists have donated to help medical workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Vegan reality TV star and businesswoman Kylie Jenner donated $1 million to help supply masks and protective gear for medical workers at her OB-GYN’s request.

Austrian-American actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger set up a crowdfunding page- the Frontline Responders Fund, and pledged $1 million while urging others to chip in to support healthcare workers with masks, gloves and other medical equipment.

“This is a simple way to protect our real action heroes on the frontlines in our hospitals, and I’m proud to be part of it,” he said in an Instagram post.

“I donated 1 million dollars, and I hope that all of you who can will step up to support these heroes.”

Billionaire philanthropist and vegan meat investor Bill Gates has pledged over $100 million through The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to provide funds for finding a vaccine, containing the outbreak and improving detection and treatment methods.

• Read: “Stay home and eat vegan food” Arnold’s advice for coronavirus

Share this story to support the medical community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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