Coronavirus: Grey’s Anatomy and other shows donate medical supplies to health workers

Supplies are direly needed amid coronavirus pandemic

Ellen Pompeo and Chandra Wilson on Grey's Anatomy. (YouTube / ABC)

Grey’s Anatomy and other TV shows are donating medical supplies to health workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Masks, gowns and other items are direly needed at many hospitals that face shortages as the number of cases continues to rise.

Station 19, a Grey’s Anatomy spin-off based at a Seattle fire station, and The Resident are also among the dramas who have donated equipment.

“At Station 19, we were lucky enough to have about 300 of the coveted N95 masks which we donated to our local fire station. They were tremendously grateful,” executive producer Krista Vernoff told Good Morning America.

“At Grey’s Anatomy, we have a back-stock of gowns and gloves which we are donating as well. We are all overwhelmed with gratitude for our healthcare workers during this incredibly difficult time, and in addition to these donations, we are doing our part to help them by staying home.”

Dr Karen Law, a rheumatologist in Atlanta, Georgia, shared an Instagram post saying donations had come from the team behind The Resident, another medical drama that films in the city.

“To the entire team @theresidentonfox, thank you for this incredibly generous donation of #PPE [personal protective equipment] from your set, including gowns, masks, gloves, and all the things our healthcare workers need to provide safe care for our community during #COVID19,” she wrote.

“Yesterday, I had a serious discussion with the residents about how, though supplies are low, a magical shipment of masks is unlikely to arrive. And yet, a magical shipment of masks DID arrive, in the form of this very generous gesture.

“This kind of community support means so much to our #frontlineproviders who are making many sacrifices to staff our hospitals and care for our community.”

Coronavirus cases have surged past 13,000 in the US, meaning healthcare workers are facing shortages of supplies such as mask, protective eye gear, and surgical gowns.

Donald Trump said during a White House briefing on Thursday that ”millions of masks” were in production but did not give details.

Additional reporting by agencies