The Nova Scotia Health Authority says it has signed a contract with undergarment manufacturer Stanfield’s Ltd. of Truro, N.S., to purchase protective gowns for health-care workers in the province.
The health authority says in a news release that production is to begin this week, with the first gowns to be delivered the week of April 15.
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The agreement will see Stanfield’s produce 30,000 gowns per week to be used by health authority and IWK Health Centre staff.
The health authority says its infection prevention and control team has supported the configuration and standards to be used in the factory during production.
CEO Jon Stanfield says the company is immediately recalling more than 70 employees, and is making a call to the community for more workers in an effort to double output within weeks.
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Stanfield says the factory will be reset to accommodate 72 people per shift for two shifts.