Healthcare workers rallied in 11 cities across California on Tuesday to call for more personal protective equipment, or PPE, as well as the passage of SB 275, which would ensure healthcare providers in the state have a stockpile of PPE for future emergencies. One of the rallies was in Riverside.
On Tuesday, August 25th, a car caravan of healthcare workers and supporters outside Riverside Community Hospital honk in support of SB 275, a proposed law that would require the California Department of Public Health to establish a PPE stockpile for health care and essential workers in the state and encourage in-state production of PPE.
PPE includes items such as N95 masks, gloves, shields, and gowns.
Raymond Valdivia has worked at Riverside Community Hospital for 8 years as a patient safety observer.
“I had COVID back in May," Valdivia says.
Valdivia says he got the virus after he was exposed to a patient who had it.
“Because during that time watching him I was told we had a gown shortage, and I was only given one gown, and it’s a one-time-use gown. So as soon as you take it off you’re supposed to dispose of it and get a new one for safety and sanitary measures. But I was told to re-use that one,” Valdivia says.
Valdivia says he’s now tested negative for COVID, but still has respiratory problems from it.
Other cities across the state with similar rallies included Sacramento, Fresno, Anaheim, and Oceanside.
Riverside Community Hospital did not respond to a request for comment.