And that considering 10% of those tested positive to the new virus are doctors, nurses and employees in hospitals. This is because of the shortage of protective gear, which could leave the hospitals at the forefront of the battle with the new coronavirus without personnel.
“I think the government should tell us what it needs and has no excuse not to do that. The sad experience of the other countries ravaged by this disease is enough. If Italy did not know what to do, we should,” says Virgil Fira, general manager and shareholder of Moviplast Craiova, a manufacturer of all sorts of polyethylene bags, and biodegradable packaging. The manufacturer could supply hospitals with ADR-certified bags for carrying hazardous waste.
Some manufacturers have already started making products they do not normally make. For instance, sofa maker Taparo bought a mask manufacturing line.
Chemical plant Chimcomplex started production of sodium hypochlorite, a biocide used for disinfectants recommended by the World Health Organization in the fight against the coronavirus.
“Both chemical plants have hypochlorite facilities, but the demand for such products in Romania was low and we use those plants for other industrial purposes. As requested by the authorities, we adjusted our technologies so as to enable the two plants to make the chlorine-based active ingredient for disinfectants. I talked with Mircea Turdean (CEO and shareholder of cosmetics manufacturer Farmec i.e.) to start a partnership for isopropyl alcohol,” said Stefan Vuza, general manager of Chimcomplex.
Cosmetics companies like Farmec, Gerocossen and Techir have started making hand sanitizer. There are also 338 plants in Romania that make protective gear for various sectors from heavy industry to mining, and some of those plants could make equipment for hospitals.
Adrian Mihai, one of the owners of parcel delivery company FAN Courier, the leader of this market in Romania, said the government should start talks with the business sector, with pharmaceutical companies to see what it lacks and how it can deal with the problem, and who the producers that can supply what is needed are
Oana Simon, general manager of Novel Medical in Bacau, a manufacturer of medical devices, says that under the circumstances, her company would be willing to help the government with anything it can.
“Nobody wants to see things deteriorate as bad as in Italy particularly since we can’t compare to them. No one is and was prepared to deal with what is going on now. However rich a country might be, there is no way to fight such a threat. You can’t have as many pieces of equipment as the number of people in your country. We are even less equipped to deal with it and we all know why,” says Oana Simion.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)