There is an escalating movement to support medical workers engaged at the forefront of the new coronavirus infection. Companies are making use of their employees, who have an abundance of spare time due to a decrease in their main businesses amid the spread of the virus, to manufacture medical supplies such as protective gowns.
At the All Nippon Airways training center, near Haneda airport, Ota Ward, Tokyo, about 30 people clad in medical gowns to protect themselves against infection, were cutting fabric and making strings for medical gowns with sewing machines. The pilots and flight attendants were working on unfamiliar tasks.
About 90% of the ANA group's 45,000 employees are on temporary leave due to a drop in flights following the spread of the virus. About 1,600 employees volunteered to make medical gowns to contribute to society.
The company plans to produce 50,000 gowns by the end of June in cooperation with a sewing company that has received an order from the government.
"My brother is a nurse. I hope to be of help, even a little, to medical workers," said a man in charge of coordinating flight plans.
--Imperial family sends handmade gowns
The Akishino imperial family also made medical gowns by hand with their staff and donated 500 to Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation Inc., for which Prince Akishino serves as patron, and Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital.
According to the Tokyo-based foundation, hospital executives explained their situation online to the imperial family on May 11, and told them that hospital employees and their families were making medical gowns, which were in short supply. After receiving an inquiry from the imperial family about how to make the gowns, the hospital sent a video showing how to make them. On the evening of May 15, the hospital received 100 medical gowns, accompanied by a letter in which the Akishino family encourages hospital workers. In addition, 400 more gowns were sent to Saiseikai group hospitals across the nation.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the family, with officials working for them, made the gowns from vinyl that can be found in shops.
A foundation official said, "It was great encouragement for people who are exhausted working at hospitals. We will use [the gowns] with gratitude at hospitals all over the country."
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