Brick Salon Collecting Safety Gear For Nurses Amid Coronavirus

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township hair salon is collecting masks, gloves and other items to be given to nurses who are on the front lines of dealing with the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Christine Snowden, the owner of September’s Hair and Nail Salon, is urging residents and everyone around to look around their homes and their businesses for unneeded items. She will be accepting donations at the salon, 321 Brick Blvd., from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

"I've talked to so many nurses and they're scared they're going to run out of PPE in the next two weeks," she said. "Anything will help. If you've got leftover masks from a painting project, or gloves, even if it's just a few, it will help."

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

The personal protective items being sought are:

• Surgical masks
• N95 respirators
• Disposable gowns
• Disposable face shields
• Eye protectors
• Nitrile gloves
• Latex gloves
• Antiseptic wipes
• HEPA filters/air scrubbers

"Businesses such as nail salons, barber shops and hair salons, dental offices, and any other business that can supply these products – particularly ones that are closed temporarily – could help fight the shortage of these items by donating them now," Snowden said.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were 6,876 positive tests for COVID-19 in New Jersey, and 81 people have died from it, according to the state health department.

In Ocean County, there were 468 positive tests through Thursday afternoon, according to the Ocean County Health Department. That includes 198 in Lakewood, 60 in Toms River, 52 in Jackson, 33 in Brick, 28 in Berkeley, 20 in Manchester, 18 in Point Pleasant, 12 in Barnegat, 12 in Lacey, seven in Stafford, four in Little Egg Harbor, three in Beachwood, three in Plumsted, three in South Toms River, two in Long Beach Township, two in Waretown, two in Point Pleasant Beach, two in Ship Bottom, and one each in Barnegat Light, Bay Head, Island Heights, Lavallette, Ocean Gate, Seaside Park, and Surf City. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.