Thieves target medical masks at Olympia hospital during coronavirus outbreak
The shortage of medical masks initiated by the coronavirus outbreak has turned some people into medical pillagers.
Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia had a visit Wednesday by one particularly bold thief. Now, the hospital has changed its mask policy.
On Wednesday, a man parked his running car outside St. Peter’s emergency room, ran in and checked several “cough stations” for masks, according to a memo obtained by The News Tribune. Unable to find any, he returned to his car.
Boxes of masks left on carts and counters have been disappearing at the hospital, the memo to staff continued. Staff have been instructed to not leave masks out in the open and to remove them from patient rooms.
Masks have also disappeared from the supply chain at St. Peter, the memo said.
Tacoma General Hospital staff noticed its paper masks were being used at a higher rate than expected last week, according to MultiCare spokeswoman Marce Edwards.
“(We) made the determination that we would remove the self-service mask dispensers in all our locations, moving them to front desks where they will be provided as needed,” she said.
At St. Joseph Medical Center, masks once available at self-service stations are now being handed out by staff. A staffer said she placed a box on a counter Thursday morning. It was quickly depleted.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization both say the masks are not effective as a means of prevention when worn by uninfected individuals. They are more effective in reducing the spread of the disease when worn by people who have COVID-19.
They also are needed by health care workers. Those workers are required to undergo an annual test to make sure they know how to use the medical grade N95 style.
The masks are in short supply or completely unavailable across the U.S., according to various news reports.
Masks sold out three weeks ago at American Medical Rental & Supply Co. in Tacoma, according to employee Brandy Kiehn. The store, and another in Puyallup, get about 45 calls a day from people asking for masks.
“They are asking us when, where and how they can get them,” Kiehn said.
The store has been told by its suppliers that all masks are being diverted to hospitals and clinics. The store doesn’t expect to see any until April, she said.
It’s not just masks and hand sanitizer customers are clamoring for, Kiehn said.
“Thermometers are the new craze,” she said.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 5:05 AM with the headline "Thieves target medical masks at Olympia hospital during coronavirus outbreak."
