Nurses told a special committee of the Minnesota Legislature Tuesday that they do *not* have enough personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brittany Livaccari, R-N at United Hospital, says every day they fight tooth-and-nail to get necessary protections. “The struggle is tiring. Even on the days we win, we feel like we’re only treading water,” she says, “And when the flood hits our tail, we won’t be prepared.”
State officials acknowledge the C-D-C has relaxed guidelines for personal protective equipment. The Minnesota Hospital Association says its members are conserving P-P-E to be able to care not only for COVID patients during the coming peak but also address the medical needs of other patients.