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The demand for face masks, gowns, goggles and disinfectants is skyrocketing among members of the general public, according to the President and CEO of Saskatoon’s Schaan Healthcare Products.
The requests started ramping up in late January and includes an interest in purchasing face masks, surface disinfectants, hand sanitizers, protective gowns and goggles.
Collin Schaan says while they want to keep a certain amount of product on the shelves, they need to carefully manage their stock.
“The products in question are in such short supply. There’s a high demand for supply all over the world. We’re trying not to issue too much product to the general public right now because the last thing we need to do is panic in a time like this.”
That means their focus is on having enough protective gear for acute care facilities, doctor’s offices and nursing homes first.
For the public, there is protective gear available – especially for those who are suffering from the flu or other contagious illnesses right now – however, the staff is trying to discourage people from hoarding.
“I think there are some people that are trying to do that -trying to be prepared. But we don’t know what to be prepared for, realistically. The important thing is we need to be really conservative with the products that are being used all across Canada, really. We have to conserve inventory at a time like this.”
Most medical products are made in China he explains — right where the ‘hot zones’ are right now. So, priority goes to those areas first in terms of need.
“The need is not currently in Canada. It’s very difficult to get product from China right now because that’s where the need has existed for the last month, and the product is just not being shipped.”
That said, their stock is healthy right now, in terms of what their normal demand might be. If that changes, the stock could be somewhat restricted.
At this point though, Schaan also doesn’t believe Saskatchewan will see the kinds of outbreaks of the coronavirus other areas of Canada or other countries are seeing.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a concern for us in the next little while.”
