There have been many cooperative international efforts to
provide the personal protective equipment
("PPE") that protect against
COVID-19. Personal protective equipment includes items such as
medical gowns, masks (respirators etc.), face shields, goggles,
gloves and the like. Companies and governments are
collaborating and boosting production to provide
supplies. Less-stricken governments and others are donating
PPE internationally. Many companies are retooling from their usual business
to make personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers or
ventilators.
The shortage of PPE in most countries
with COVID-19 cases has been in the news for weeks. Demand is
still exceeding supply, despite the strong push to get PPE to those
who need them, particularly front-line healthcare
workers. Although the vast majority of efforts are
cooperative, there is a risk of two types of attempted PPE piracy
that need to be minimized, i) unduly
restricting or prohibiting export, and
