AKRON, Ohio — A shipment of more than 4,000 masks was dropped off to the Summit County Public Health Department and local Akron hospitals Wednesday morning to help out essential workers and their need for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through a partnership, The University of Akron, City of Akron, and Lighter Than Air (LTA) have teamed up to create and distribute nearly 45,000 face shields to hospitals and health centers in the area.
The team includes graduate and undergraduate students, research assistants, professors, scientists, and more. The team is being led by Nicholas Garafolo P.H.D.. Garafolo is also an associate professor of mechanical engineering at UA.
“The team is motivated to help our community through their engineering, problem solving and logistics skills, and professional networks,” said Garafolo.
“Thanks to the support from LTA, we are able to help local hospitals and care facilities, and we are in a position to assist health care providers and volunteers nationwide.”
LTA has utilized their 3D printer over the past several weeks to produce their face shield which are currently being distributed to nursing homes, care facilities, and hospitals.
As of right now, the partners are producing as many as 2,000 face shields a day.
To request face shields for COVID-19 frontline workers, email ltahelps@ltaresearch.com.