Coronavirus: Lowell General Seeks Donations, Including Sewn Masks

LOWELL, MA — Lowell General Hospital is accepting donations including sewn fabric masks, the hospital said Monday. The hospital called on the crafting community and provided instructions on sewing masks. It is also accepting donations of other protective equipment like N95 masks and hand sanitizer.

Face masks can be dropped off at Anton’s Cleaners Stadium Plaza, 10 Main St, Tewksbury MA 01876. Donors are asked to use the "VIP drop box" and label their donations for the hospital. Donated face masks will be laundered before use, the hospital said.

Crafters are asked to use 100 percent cotton or a 50/50 cotton/poly blend. Complete instructions are available here.

The hospital, like others around the country, is also accepting donations of other personal protective equipment, "primarily N95 masks, protective gowns, procedure and surgical masks and hand sanitizer."

The hospital is not accepting meal and beverage donations to the hospital locations, but businesses interested in supporting the staff can provide free or discounted purchase options or gift cards. Business owners who want to donate can contact philanthropy@lowellgeneral.org.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.