Local universities make masks, protective gear for medical workers

BEEN DISTRIBUTING FOOD AT

BETHESDA, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>>> THE SHORTAGE OF MASKS FOR

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IS A

NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.

BUT HERE IN THE TRIANGLE,

UNIVERSITIES ARE FINDING NEW

AND SAFE WAYS TO MAKE SURGICAL

MASKS.

WRAL'S NIA HARDEN JOINS US WITH

THAT STORY.

GOOD MORNING.

>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.

RIGHT HERE BEHIND ME WHERE THE

INSTITUTE IS HERE AT NC STATE

WHERE THEY ARE WORKING TO MAKE

MASKS.

VIDEO WE ARE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU

WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF

PROCESS, HOW THIS ALL COMES TO

FRUITION.

NC STATE SAYS THEY HOPE TO

PRODUCE UP TO 500,000 SURGICAL

MASKS PER DAY TO PROTECT HEALTH

CARE WORKERS AND FIRST

RESPONDERS.

AT DUKE, THEY ARE WORKING TO

CREATE FACE SHIELDS FOR DUKE

HEALTH SYSTEM, HEALTH CARE

WORKERS.

HEALTH CARE WORKER WITH PUT THE

SHIELDS ON OVER THEIR N95 MASK

TO PROTECT THEM.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE

DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS AT

THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE

NOT PART OF THEIR NORMAL DAY TO

DAY FUNCTIONS.

AND WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE AS

FAR AS MAKING THE FACE SHIELDS

IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

OUR GROUP IS EXCITED TO BE

TRUST WITH THIS IMPORTANT TASK

TO PROVIDE THE FACE SHIELDS FOR

THE FRONT LINE.

>> Reporter: DUKE MADE 8,000 OF

THESE FACE SHIELDS.

THEY ARE HOPING TO MAKE 50,000