As Covid-19 continues to spread worldwide and within NZ, one major concern NZ healthcare workers have is the lack of correct PPE. With the current guidelines from MOH it is clear that we are going to fall short of a safe working environment. With every case of Covid-19 there is a risk of a hospital outbreak. Putting healthcare workers and patients at risk. The MOH state that healthcare workers should be using surgical mask for all interactions with covid-19 patients except when providing aerosol generating procedures. However multiple outlets have proven that surgical masks are NOT effective protection against Covid-19, especially when we are likely to spend over 15 minutes with patients at a time. 
Within the DHB’s we are also expected to reuse and share eye protection/goggles with nurses, doctors and other health care workers. We are risking our lives to save others and without effective PPE healthcare workers in the frontline are very vulnerable. Evidence from countries overseas show that healthcare workers make up a large percentage of those infected, with many dying. We need the MOH to follow guidelines from overseas (N95 masks, hazmat suits, goggles and full face shields for every health worker caring for those with confirmed or probable Covid-19). We also need an urgent review of the policies. Please give us the PPE we need and deserve to keep patients and ourselves safe before it’s too late.