Canada has set aside $2 billion to buy personal protective equipment for frontline health-care workers.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said they are working with companies to make medical supplies such as ventilators, surgical masks and test kits.
“We said that we were close to reaching agreements with Thornhill Medical, Medicom and Spartan Bioscience. Today, we’re announcing that we have moved forward with contracts with these three Canadian companies,” said Trudeau on Tuesday.
The government has also signed letters of intent with five other companies, including New Brunswick-based Irving Oil, which has retooled its blending and packaging facility in Saint John, N.B., to add hand sanitizer to the production line.
“We know that the demand for critical equipment and supplies will grow in the coming weeks, so we need a sustainable, stable supply of these products,” said Trudeau.
The prime minister said there will be a need for items like masks, ventilators and testing kits, but how many more we need will depend on Canadians.
“If you stay home and follow public health recommendations, you can slow the spread, and that means fewer patients in our hospitals, fewer people to test, fewer ventilators to use on critical patients,” said Trudeau.
