MSA Safety Donates 65,000 Masks To Allegheny Health Network

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA - Cranberry-based MSA Safety is partnering with Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network to obtain a shipment of 65,000 respirator masks that will be used in the region's effort to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

The health network will collaborate with other local hospitals to determine how the masks will be distributed. Health network officials also will consult with Allegheny County officials to assess the needs of first responders, EMS and other health care providers.

“MSA recognizes the critical importance of personal protective equipment as we work together with health care providers in their efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” MSA Safety spokesman Mark Deasy said in a statement. “In that spirit, we are very pleased to donate our complete U.S. allotment of these masks to the local Pittsburgh medical community.”

As health care providers respond to the outbreak, the masks are in short supply due to
pandemic-related supply challenges and interruptions among manufacturers of the equipment.

“Personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks, are essential to protecting health care providers on the front lines of this public health crisis,” said Dr. Donald Whiting, the health network's chief medical officer. “We are extremely grateful to MSA Safety for stepping up to help us meet this challenge, and look forward to making sure the equipment is distributed in a manner that best serves the community’s needs.”