Local companies continue to step up in different ways to pad hospitals’ supply of face masks and other personal protective equipment.
- Representatives from Irvine-based Kia Motors America Inc. on Monday sent over 500 N95 masks to UC Irvine Medical Center.
- Irvine-based St. John Knits is now using its local facility to make polycotton gowns with antimicrobial technology for hospitals and nursing homes among other facilities, the company confirmed Monday.
- Meanwhile, AST Sportswear of Brea is part of a coalition of textile companies working with the federal government to address the shortage of face masks.
Others joining AST include Hanesbrands, Fruit of the Loom, Parkdale Inc., Los Angeles Apparel, American Giant, Sanmar, America Knits, Beverly Knits and Riegel Linen.
The National Council of Textile Organizations estimated once the coalition’s factories are working at full capacity, the group should be able to make as many as 10 million masks weekly.
Go here for more updates on how OC companies are responding to coronavirus.
See today’s edition of the Business Journal for more on how FivePoint Communities’ CEO and Blinking Owl Distillery are also helping.
