Correspondent
Frontline medical workers in Japan are worried they re running out of an essential piece of protective equipment. They re facing a critical shortfall of medical rubber gloves at the same time as coronavirus infections rise to record levels.
A medical clinic in the city of Funabashi gets through close to 500 pairs of gloves a week. That s been the case since the pandemic began earlier this year.
The clinic s deputy director, Doi Yoshiyasu, says it s getting difficult to source the item, and the price has doubled. He urges authorities to prioritize resource allocation to the people who need it most.
A recent survey of medical staff involved in the fight against COVID-19 found the shortage is becoming a serious issue nationwide. Almost 60 percent of those who responded said that they were running out.