March 20, 2020 / Stephanie Goldberg and A.D. Quig
As coronavirus cases mount in Illinois, healthcare providers face a shortage of personal protective equipment. To keep workers healthy—and on the job—the hospital industry is asking dentists, veterinarians and others to donate their face masks and respirators.
Healthcare providers that get exposed to COVID-19 are required to self-quarantine for 14 days to prevent further spreading the virus, even if they’re not showing symptoms. Rush Oak Park Hospital said today that two emergency room doctors have tested positive for coronavirus, the Sun-Times reports. 
Without medical supplies that protect clinicians and support staff, sources say a worker shortage is imminent.
“We anticipate that the number of cases will increase dramatically in the coming days and weeks, exhausting all the (personal protective equipment) at hospitals,” Illinois Health and Hospital Association CEO A.J. Wilhelmi said today in a letter to leaders of associations for the construction industry, dentists and veterinarians, among other groups.