Nurses union to launch a protest on Tuesday at the White House

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A national organization of nurses is to conduct a demonstration at the White House to demand the provision of lacking protective equipment in fighting coronavirus.
• The group is also to call out Congress to provide the necessary support for health care workers and nurses’ supplies, as well as mass testing capability.
• Trump urged the states to take charge of the delivery of essentials to health workers.

On Monday, a nationwide association of nurses declared that its members would launch a demonstration on Tuesday at the White House to call for financial support in the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be included in the succeeding COVID-19 stimulus package.

Considered as the U.S’ biggest network of the nurses union, the National Nurses United (NNU) said in a statement that its members are to recite read loudly the names of health workers whose lives were perished because of coronavirus crisis.

The deaths of nurses amidst the pandemic is also mainly attributed to the lack of gloves, masks, and other protective equipment of the front-liners.

Through its statement, the group criticized the absence of both safety and health standards across the nation, which also led to the scarcity of proper PPE for all health workers and nurses who are exposed to COVID-19.

The NNU also called for Congress to decree the Defense Production Act in order to expedite the support necessary to manufacture the items and equipment for health care workers for them to work with coronavirus patients safely.

The group also emphasized the importance of having mass testing to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has made use of the Defense Production Act under a restricted basis in the past weeks in the production of ventilators and other necessary kits as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Trump, though, urged states and its hospitals to have the control in getting other vital supplies.

Despite the recent $2.2 trillion coronavirus economic bill being the highest in the history of the U.S.,  this is more likely not enough as different sectors, from small and medium businesses to the Pentagon, are, at present, appealing for more stimulus aid.

Source: The Hill