Coronavirus Response: Live Story – May 2020

Staff with Ampla Health Care conduct Covid-19 testing at a drive-through site in Yuba City, California. The site was provided with protective gear from Direct Relief. (Photo by Renée C. Byer/ZUMA Wire)
By Noah Smith

This live story is no longer being updated. For the latest news, see this month’s live story at Direct Relief News.

For the latest case totals and donation data at a glance, be sure to check Direct Relief’s live updating map:

 

May 31 – Direct Relief’s Covid-19 U.S. response update:

Shipments leaving this week include support for health centers, clinics, and other safety net support partners in Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, California, Missouri, Tennessee, and Illinois.

Additional PPE shipments are set for prisons in Florida and New York as well as PATH  Transportation Division of the Port Authority of NY and NJ, the Coalition of Immokalee (Fla.) Farm Workers, Doctors without Borders (New York City), Navajo Nation Correctional Facilities, as part of a partnership with Doctors without Borders, and Henderson Parks and Recreation (Nev.)

Locally, Direct Relief sent shipments to Community Health Centers of the Central Coast and
Common Ground Santa Barbara, and responded to 117 local Santa Barbara essential business mask requests.

Direct Relief’s Research and Analysis team has established new external collaborations with the Office of the Texas Governor and the Seattle Mayor’s Office in order to provide them with actionable data related to the pandemic and other disasters.

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Happening today:
The Drone Racing League will continue its eight-race 2020 FanDuel DRL SIM Racing Cup this at 11 a.m. PST on NBC Sports Network and Twitter.

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May 30 – Direct Relief Mexico’s Eddie Mendoza was profiled in Mexico News Daily:

All of us could take a cue from Eddie when it comes to how we interact with each other again. If we manage all of our relationships, from the personal to the inter-institutional, with good intentions and the ultimate goal of mutual benefit, we just might see large-scale positive results proportional to what he has achieved during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I want to show Mexico that if you trust, you can accomplish big things.”

Read the full story here:
Eddie Mendoza and Direct Relief Mexico: a model for the new normal

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An update on Direct Relief ‘s Covid-19 grant program for community health centers in the United States:
Direct Relief Aids Community Health Centers With $27.9 Million in Grants

Zufall Health Center staff conduct Covid-19 tests in a Direct Relief-provided medical tent. Zufall is among the 519 health centers to receive a grant through Direct Relief’s Covid-19 Fund for Community Health. (photo courtesy Zufall Health Center)

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May 29 – San Antonio Spurs star and Baltimore-native Rudy Gay gave a $50,000 Direct Relief grant to one of the Federally Qualified Health Centers in his hometown.

Read the full story at San Antonio’s NBC News affiliate:
Rudy Gay presents $50,000 check to Baltimore health care provider to help fight COVID-19

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290 oxygen concentrators were delivered to the Barcelona Provincial Council:

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Coverage of Direct Relief’s partnership with FedEx in the Pacific Coast Business Times:

“In emergencies, everyone is vulnerable to some extent. But some are more vulnerable than others,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “The people who are more socially vulnerable are the ones who rely on nonprofits to access these resources.”

Read the full story here:
Direct Relief and FedEx Cares partner to distribute PPE

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May 28 – An update to Direct Relief’s Europe response (last updated on May 21): four emergency COVID-19 shipments to four partners in four countries valued at $1,280,947.

Direct Relief shipments since the last update:
-250,000 KN95 masks were recently distributed to 45 London-based organizations managing COVID-19 and homelessness in the city.

-Three ICU Kits to the Ministry of Health in Macedonia.

Staff members at an InterContinental Hotel in London with KN95 masks donated by Direct Relief. (Courtesy Photo via the Greater London Authority)

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The latest original news reporting from Direct Relief’s Talya Meyers: how emergency managers are preparing for potential disasters during this pandemic.
Preparing for Disasters in the Age of Covid-19

Members of the Ventura County Medical Reserve Corps work at a tent station during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency)

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Happening today:
Victor “Elded” Calderón, one of the most followed video game streamers on Twitch with 2.2 million followers, will be on live tonight from 7-9 p.m. PST as part of the Gillette Gaming Alliance. Gillette will contribute $40,000 and Elded will be fundraising on the stream.

Check it out here:
https://www.twitch.tv/elded

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May 27 –  An update from Direct Relief’s Paul Sherer: A month after establishing the Covid-19 Fund for Community Health, Direct Relief has awarded and is disbursing more than $27 million in grants to 518 community health centers. Among the hundreds of grant applications, these themes emerged:

-Health centers are doing more with less. Revenue is down due to lower patient visits, yet health centers have remained open and are asked to do more for their patients and communities. Health centers in communities of color are seeing a disproportionate impact.

-Cities and counties have asked health centers to expand services, both for ongoing care and for Covid-19 testing where public health departments aren’t set up to do it. This includes health centers in New York City’s Harlem, the Lower Ninth Ward in Los Angeles, and South Central Los Angeles.

-A need for PPE to keep both staff and patients safe, not only for Covid-19 treatment and testing but also to ensure that patients can stay safe during non-Covid visits.

-New models of care: Many centers shifted on a dime into telehealth and other flexible delivery models. A transition that in normal circumstances would have taken years was accomplished, out of necessity, in just days. Along with telehealth, clinics have embraced new care delivery methods including drive-through or parking lot appointments and mobile units.

-Vulnerable populations: Many health center patients are among the most vulnerable, and often have pre-existing conditions which make them more at risk. Many of the applicants are located in communities of color and are working on education and outreach campaigns within their communities.

-Loss of revenue from dental services: Dental care generates a large percentage of revenue for some centers, and most dental services have stopped. This is contributing to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses at many individual centers.

Here is some local coverage of grantees:
Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette: Health clinic will start coronavirus testing next month thanks to $50,000 grant

CBS El Paso (Texas): Non-profit health center in El Paso receives emergency grant funding

ABC Bakersfield (Calif.):Clinica Sierra Vista receives emergency grant from Direct Relief

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Direct Relief partnered with Navajo Nation for Covid-19 response:

Direct Relief staff on Friday drove two ICU kits and a supply of PPE to the Navajo Nation, which is fighting an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases. Each kit contains enough ICU medications and supplies for at least 100 hospitalized patients, including antibiotics such as azithromycin and ceftriaxone, vasopressors such as norepinephrine, and respiratory medications like albuterol inhalers.


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May 26 – Direct Relief’s U.S. Covid-19 response update:

This week, shipments are going to hospitals in California, Texas, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Washington, D.C., Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, and Puerto Rico.

In addition to hospitals, Direct Relief is also shipping donations to the Cape Area Fire Department in Texas, Shared Harvest Fund in Maryland and California, Neighborhood Service Organization in Michigan, and Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast, Texas.

19 U.S. Federal Prisons are receiving masks in a partnership with the American Federal Government Employees (AGFE) Union. The prisons are located in California, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Oregon, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington.

U.S. Grants Update:
– 518 partners will receive the first round of grants, up to $50,000.

-Six partners will receive the larger $500,000 grants.

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The latest original reporting from Direct Relief:
When the Town Became a Covid-19 Hotspot, This Health Center Never Closed Its Doors

Dr. Vidushi Shanker updates patient records after an appointment at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center’s COVID-19 Clinic on April 1. (Photo courtesy of BNHC)

As Covid-19 Gains a Foothold, a Q&A with the Director of a Rohingya Camp Field Hospital

A health worker consults with a colleague at the HOPE for Women and Children of Bangladesh’s field hospital. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Iftikher Mahmood)

Opioid Overdose Deaths Plunge in Virginia Counties After Influx of Naloxone

A vial of naloxone, which can temporarily reverse an opioid drug overdose. (Photo by Stephanie Klein-Davis for Direct Relief)

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NBA Cares continues to support Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response:

Some Good News with John Krasinski launched an online merch store over the weekend, with proceeds from the sale of merchandise going towards charity. Direct Relief is one of the nonprofits featured. To double the impact, The Starbucks Foundation is matching the first $1 million in donations.

Metallica is supporting Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response via the bands’ All Within My Hands Foundation.

Musician Noah Cyrus released a new EP called The End of Everything on May 15 during a Billboard Live At-Home concert, which raised money for Direct Relief. Watch the performance here:
https://www.billboard.com/video/noah-cyrus-billboard-live-at-home-performance-billboard

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May 25 – Direct Relief’s U.S. response: 10,352 shipments valued at $62.36 million to 1,899 partners.

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Direct Relief’s Mexico response: PPE sent to hospitals and government officials, in addition to using $1.49 million in new grants to purchase PPE and support health care providers with supplies and medicines during the pandemic.

A registered national NGO operating as a Civil Association since 2014, Direct Relief  Mexico coordinates with the Mexican Social Security Institute, which provides healthcare to over 80 million people. Direct Relief Mexico has agreements with the State Ministries of Coahuila, Morelos, Oaxaca, and Quintana Roo as well as standing donation agreements with 14 local manufacturers.

Direct Relief Mexico has also established a partnership with consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to help identify local PPE vendors and to develop an optimized distribution plan for Mexico partners.

Direct Relief shipments include:

-350,000 surgical masks, 10,000 goggles, and 30,000 face shields delivered to hospitals.

-4,275 N95 masks have been purchased and delivered to the National Nutrition Institute.

-Received in-kind donation of over-the-counter medications from Johnson & Johnson and Bepanthen skin cream from Bayer, to be distributed to frontline health workers experiencing skin irritation from PPE.

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Shinedown’s new song “Atlas Falls,” all proceeds from which will benefit Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response, is now the top rock song on iTunes.

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May 24 – Happening today:

The Match: Champions for Charity, a live golf competition

Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning square off against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady at noon PST. The event, which will benefit four charities, will be simulcast on TNT, TBS, truTV and HLN at noon PST. Tiger Woods has selected Direct Relief as his charity.

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Academy Award-winner, founder of CORE, and Direct Relief partner Sean Penn talks with PBS about the quarter million Covid-19 tests his nonprofit has administered:

https://www.pbs.org/video/sean-penn-feetzm/

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Katy Perry will be donating proceeds from a new cloth face covering to Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response.

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May 23 Direct Relief is issuing $28 million in new grants to support safety net heath care centers during Covid-19 across the United States. Here are just a few of the recipients:

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Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response in China: 13 emergency Covid-19 shipments to 49 partners valued at $427,362. For updates from other countries and regions around the world, see previous posts.

Direct Relief was one of the first foreign aid agencies to support the outbreak in Wuhan, dispatching a donation of personal protective equipment to Wuhan Union Hospital just five days after the government-imposed lockdown of Hubei Province. In the following weeks, Direct Relief provided donations of PPE to the primary health facilities in the three cities worst impacted by Covid-19: Wuhan, Xiaogan, and Huanggang.

Direct Relief Shipments:
-Donations included over 815,000 masks, 952,000 gloves, and 30,000 protective gowns. 32 tons of PPE was shipped in total.

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May 22 –  Direct Relief international (non-U.S.) response totals, as of today:

-45 Covid-19 shipments with a combined value of $1.7 million

-209 total shipments including regular support shipments with a combined value of $158 million

Partners Supported:
-39 Covid-19 support partners across 26 countries

-146 total partners including regular support partners across 65 countries

COVID-19 Medical Materials Donated:
-Total PPE Items: 7.4 million masks, 4.1 million gloves, 46,000 gowns and coveralls, and 485,000 other PPE supplies

-Medical Supplies: 874 Oxygen concentrators

Funds Granted:
-Total Grants: $218,220 total emergency Covid-19 grants have been awarded to seven partners across 14 countries.

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International response updates by region are ongoing. Today’s breakdowns are for Central and South Asia as well as the Middle East and Africa.

Direct Relief’s Central and South Asia Covid-19 Response (excluding response to Cyclone Amphan): one emergency shipment in one country valued at $9,042. $56,400 has been granted to two partners in two countries.

Direct Relief Shipments:
– One COVID-19 preparedness donation containing Emergency Medical Backpacks, masks, gloves, gowns, and other PPE items, and oxygen concentrators sent to Hope Foundation Bangladesh to support the Rohingya refugee COVID-19 response.

-A $40,000 emergency Covid-19 grant has been issued to Hope Foundation to support the establishment of a 50-bed COVID-19 isolation center at the Rohingya Refugee camp.

-A $16,400 emergency Covid-19 grant has been issued to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, India, to procure PPE for their onsite COVID-19 ward.

This HOPE Foundation field hospital has a new Covid-19 isolation unit under construction in the Rohingya Refugee Camp outside of Cox’s Bazaar in southern Bangladesh, just across boarder from Myanmar. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Iftikher Mahmood)

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Direct Relief’s Middle East and North Africa Response: one emergency COVID-19 shipment to a partner in one country valued at $18,109.

Direct Relief Shipments:
– One Covid-19 preparedness donation containing Emergency Medical Backpacks, masks, gloves, gowns, and other PPE items, and oxygen concentrators sent to ANERA in Lebanon.

Full coverage of the shipment here:
As Covid-19 Cases Rise, Critical Medical Supplies Reach Hospitals in Lebanon

Protective gear from Direct Relief arrives at Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Lebanon in April 2020. Nonprofit organization Anera distributed the shipment, which included oxygen concentrators, N95 respirator masks, gloves, shoe covers, surgical caps, soap bars, and face shields. (Anera photo)

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Happening today:
Ellen DeGeneres will auction off a signed Rob Gronkowski jersey to benefit Direct Relief on today’s show, which will feature the three-time Super Bowl champion as a guest.

The auction will go live today at eBay.com/ellentv. The Ellen Show airs on NBC. at 3 p.m. local time in the U.S.

Happening on Sunday:
The Match: Champions for Charity, a live golf competition

Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning square off against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady at noon PST.
The event, which will benefit four charities, will be simulcast on TNT, TBS, truTV and HLN at noon PST. Tiger Woods has selected Direct Relief as his charity.

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May 21 – Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response in Europe: three emergency COVID-19 shipments to three partners in three countries valued at $399,946.

Direct Relief is working closely with authorities in the Lombardy region of Italy and Catalunya in Spain. Lombardy has been the epicenter of the Coronavirus outbreak in Italy. The regional health supply division supports 42 health facilities across Milan and the region.

In Catalunya, Spain, Direct Relief is working with the Barcelona regional government to support hospitals with PPE and oxygen concentrators.

In the UK, Direct Relief is supporting the Greater London Authority through the Office of London Mayor. Direct Relief’s PPE donations to England will be used to outfit health workers at homeless shelters across London.

Direct Relief Shipments:
-750,000 KN95 masks to the UK, Spain, and Italy

-100 Oxygen concentrators, 5 ICU kits, and other PPE to Italy

-400 Oxygen concentrators to Spain

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The U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration released results from a survey of community health centers in the United States.

Some takeaways from the report:
-89.5% of health centers are providing COVID-19 tests. Most of those are able to offers results in 2-3 days.

-As of May 8, 127,816 tests have been conducted. 57% of all persons being tested identified as a racial or ethnic minority member.

-Health center centers have been steep declines— 43% overall— in patient visit totals compared to pre-pandemic levels. 1,954 health center locations have temporarily closed due to pandemic-related issues.

-51% of patient visits are being conducted virtually.

-11% of health staff have been unable to work due to site/service closure, exposure, family/home obligations, lack of PPE, etc.,

Find the HRSA survey results here:
https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/coronavirus-health-center-data

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May 20 – Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response in Africa: Eight emergency COVID-19 shipments to six partners in six countries valued at $75,770. $1 million has been granted to three partners across three countries.

Direct Relief’s Africa response is in coordination with the COVID Community Health PPE Fund for Africa, a collaborative effort with the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC), the Pandemic Action Network, World Health Organization’s Supply Chain Task Force, World Food Programs’s Emergency Services Marketplace, the African Union, and Africa CDC to avoid duplication of efforts.

The mission for Direct Relief is to aggregate and address the unmet need for COVID-related supplies for health workers, specifically community health workers, across 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Direct Relief is also supporting the South African Solidarity Fund with $1,000,000.

Direct Relief Shipments:
-48 Midwife Kits to be donated to Health Alliance International and the Ministry of Health of Mozambique, in Sofala province, Mozambique.

-Two COVID-19 preparedness donations containing Emergency Medical Backpacks, masks, gloves, gowns, and other PPE items, and oxygen concentrators sent to Partners in Health in Malawi, and the Association des Diabetiques in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

-PPE Gloves sent to Partners in Health in Sierra Leone.

-Additionally, $1,000,000 has been be donated to the South Africa Solidarity Fund, $20,000 has been granted to Jericho Road to procure PPE supplies locally in the DRC, and $5,000 has been granted to the OGRA Foundation to combat Covid-19 in health facilities in Kenya.

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There is a special bonus episode of Whiskey Sour Happy Hour today at 5 p.m. Pacific time, presented by Ed Helms and the Bluegrass Situation. The now-five episode series has benefited MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund as well as procurement and delivery of PPE via Direct Relief.

Today’s episode will feature performances from Watkins Family Hour, Madison Cunningham, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Davíd Garza, Matt the Electrician, Valerie June, Ben Harper, Billy Strings, and Rodney Crowell.

Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-udulYKyAo

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Andrew Schroeder, Direct Relief’s VP of research and analysis, wrote about his latest findings related to which populations are most at-risk during this pandemic, and how that understanding has evolved.

Read the full story here:
As the COVID-19 pandemic expands, our understanding of who is most at risk is changing

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Today on NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show: a video from Revival Roots’s Reed Newman about Direct Relief.

Reed is the owner/founder of Revival Roots, an LA-based company that designs and tends to private vegetable gardens. In March, Reed drove to the Santa Ynez Valley to pick up fresh vegetables for his clients.

The farmers gave Reed the veggies for free and told him to pay it forward. So he did– Reed delivered the veggie boxes to his clients, and instead of charging them, he asked them to make a donation to Direct Relief.

Click here to find out which channel the shows airs on in your local market:
https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/exclusives/where-to-watch

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May 19 –  Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response in East Asia and the Pacific:

Direct Relief has a strategic regional partnership with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center). The AHA Centre is the regional disaster management agency for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and comprises ten member nations.

Direct Relief has an official memorandum of understanding with the AHA Centre and is coordinating with them to support the COVID-19 response in the ASEAN region.

Direct Relief Shipments:
-5 ventilators were donated to Philippines General Hospital, and the Lung Centre of the Philippines. In partnership with Zuellig Pharma and the Zuellig Family Foundation in the Philippines, Direct Relief facilitated the donation of an additional six ventilators and five oxygen concentrators to Philippines General Hospital, the Lung Centre of the Philippines, and San Lazaro Hospital.

-AHA Centre deployed Direct Relief-funded emergency tents and supplies from their Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN stockpile in Manila in support of the Philippines COVID-19 response.

-In addition, Direct Relief issued a $12,000 emergency COVID-19 grant to local partner Bumi Sehat in Indonesia to procure PPE and other supplies to support the continuity of maternal and child health services at their birthing center in Bali.

-A $60,000 emergency COVID-19 grant was issued to local partner Health Futures Foundation in the Philippines to enable them to establish four COVID-19 isolation wards south of Manila.

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Gowns worn by Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Julia Roberts, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, and other celebrities are being auctioned off on eBay to help support Direct Relief’s Covid-19 efforts. The initiative was organized by stylist Elizabeth Stewart.

Read the whole story at Today:
Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez’s gowns are for sale — and the money goes to help COVID-19 relief

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Breitling announced a new timepiece that will help benefit six charities responding to Covid-19 around the world, including Direct Relief.

The colorful watch is called Superocean Heritage ’57 Limited Edition II and is limited to 1,000 pieces.

More coverage at Robb Report:
Breitling Just Released a Second Limited-Edition Rainbow Watch—and This One Benefits Frontline Workers

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Video game development company Bungie raised almost $789,000 via Tiltify for its Guardian’s Heart campaign involving Destiny 2.

Read the full story here:
Bungie Raised Over $780K With Destiny 2 Charity

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CNN: A guide to helping and getting help during the coronavirus crisis

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May 18 – An update on Direct Relief’s Caribbean response: two emergency COVID-19 shipments to two partners valued at $57,215. $150,000 granted to two partners across eight countries in the region.

Direct Relief has key strategic partnerships in the Caribbean with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which represents 18 Member States, as well as with the Organization of East Caribbean States (OECS), which represents 11 Member States.

Direct Relief shipments:
-Four Covid-19 ICU kits containing essential intensive care medications for critical Covid-19 patients were sent to OECS Member States, including Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica, and Antigua & Barbuda.

-12 Covid-19 preparedness donations containing Emergency Medical Backpacks, various PPE items, and oxygen concentrators were sent to 12 Caribbean nations, including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Bahamas, Haiti, and Jamaica.

-In addition, a $50,000 emergency grant was issued to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to increase Covid-19 testing capacities. Recipient nations include Saint Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda.

-A $100,000 emergency COVID-19 grant was issued to Health Equity International in Haiti to support the maintenance of health services.

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Direct Relief spoke with Edna Adan, former foreign minister of Somaliland, about new and existing challenges related to maternal care during this pandemic:
The “Cruel Beast” of Covid-19: A Q&A with Edna Adan

Edna Adan, founder of the Edna Adan University Hospital and a prominent women’s health advocate, oversees a student midwife. (Photo courtesy of Edna Adan)

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A new video was released today on Direct Relief’s YouTube page, featuring music generously donated by the Avett Brothers.

Check out “Anywhere, Anyone in Need: Direct Relief”

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May 17 –  This is the first of several international updates in the coming days.

Latin America: 16 emergency COVID-19 shipments to partners in 13 countries valued at $99,420.57.

Much of Direct Relief’s work in Latin America is in coordination with the Pan American Health Organization, or PAHO, a specialized health division of the World Health Organization overseeing 35 countries in the Americas.

Direct Relief signed an official memorandum of understanding with PAHO in order to support its mandate, and is now working closely with PAHO’s leadership to support the international response to COVID-19 across the region.

Direct Relief Shipments:
-50 oxygen concentrators and 25 emergency medical backpacks were sent at PAHO’s Panama headquarters for immediate distribution to Haiti.

-COVID-19 preparedness donations containing Emergency Medical Backpacks and various PPE items were sent to Panama, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay.

-A large shipment containing PPE, Emergency Medical Backpacks, general medicines and other supplies was delivered to the Ministry of Health of Bolivia, where the nation is facing multiple health emergencies, most importantly COVID-19 and a dengue outbreak.

-PAHO has requested 100 COVID-19 ICU medicine kits from Direct Relief, to be distributed to the highest risk countries in their region, including Haiti, Ecuador and Peru.

-783,000 surgical masks were delivered to Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.

-Direct Relief has also sponsored a charter of $7M of PPE purchased by PAHO, to be delivered to 35 member states across the Americas. The $1.5 Million charter is due to arrive in the region in the next 14 days.

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Direct Relief spoke with  “Last Black Man in San Francisco” actor and activist Jamal Trulove about his “unconventional” path to becoming an actor and his Covid-19 relief work in the Bay Area:
‘Last Black Man in SF’ Actor Was Appalled At Mask Prices. So He Gave Thousands Away.

Jamal Trulove calls out to people passing by on Fillmore Street in San Francisco to let them know they are giving away free hand sanitizer and face masks. (Photo Courtesy of Tru Narrativ)

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May 16 – An update on international (non-U.S.) shipments:

In addition to U.S. response work, since January 30, Direct Relief has so far supported 30 partners across 26 countries with supplies and medicines specifically tailored to the pandemic.

Covid-19 supplies include PPE (N95/KN95/surgical masks, isolation gowns, gloves, goggles, face shields, and more), testing kits, isolation tents, oximeters, oxygen concentrators, and Direct Relief’s ICU Kits. Total value of these shipments is more than $1.2 million, based on estimated wholesale value, which approximates fair value, on the date received, based on the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC).

During this same period, Direct Relief’s totals include support for 143 regular partners across 65 countries with 201 shipments worth a total value of $158 million.

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May 15 – U.S.-bound shipments went out this week to hospitals, emergency responders, dialysis centers, clinics, and ambulance services in Idaho, California, Texas Virginia, New York, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, Arizona, New Jersey, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

Direct Relief has also sent PPE shipments to food banks in the following California counties Santa Barbara, Orange, San Diego, Ventura, Los  Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, and Riverside.

Covid-19 response totals in the U.S. since January 30:
1,843 partners
9,659 deliveries
1.1 million pounds total weight of deliveries
$58.5 million value

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Post Malone is partnering with Direct Relief to send masks to U.S. clinics, and is also supporting Covid-19 initiatives with proceeds from Shaboink Clean Kit presales.

Read more about the donation in Billboard:
Post Malone Relaunches Shaboink Brand With Huge Offer of Coronavirus Relief Gear

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The estate of Tupac Shakur will be donating all proceeds from new cloth face coverings to Direct Relief’s Covid–19 response.

Check them out here:
2Pac ‘Keep Ya Head Up’ Cloth Face Covering
2Pac ‘We Gotta Make a Change’ Cloth Face Covering

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Omaze is offering an in-depth conversation with Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Professor Adam Grant, who specializes in organizational psychology. Grant’s TED talks have tens of millions of views and can be accessed here.

Proceeds will benefit Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response.

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May 14 –  Coverage from Esri on how Direct Relief uses GIS and data to get supplies where they are most needed.

“Direct Relief, based in Santa Barbara, California, specializes in solving supply chain problems during emergencies. When disaster strikes, the organization determines the best way to obtain needed supplies, often working with private manufacturers to divert products to relief zones.”

Read the full article here:
COVID-19: How Direct Relief Solves Medical Supply Chain Problems

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From last week: Cabin Creek Health received their donation from Direct Relief.

The West Virginia-based community health center network was by union coal miners in 1973. Today, the system includes 10 sites, of which 4 are based in schools, a black lung clinic, and medication assisted treatment.

Scripps Health in San Diego received their shipment last week as well:

Health care providers at Scripps Health with their donated PPE. (Photo Courtesy of Scripps Health)

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Barbra Streisand called into The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to talk about her new video supporting Direct Relief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axB3GXUSvFQ

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May 13 – Direct Relief contributor Stav Dimitropoulos reports on how the pandemic is playing out in a Greek refugee camp:

“Coronavirus in Moria is something no one wants to touch,” said Deen Mohammad Alizadah, a pharmacist from Kabul, Afghanistan, and one of the 100-plus-member Moria Corona Awareness Team. “I hear a lot of people coughing; others are running a fever. If someone is sick, they have to go to an in-camp clinic where they wait six hours to see a doctor. Some don’t have the patience to sit around.”

Read the full story here:
In an Overcrowded Greek Refugee Camp, Fighting Covid-19 Before it Arrives

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The final episode of Whiskey Sour Happy Hour hosted by Ed Helms, is on today at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

Proceeds raised will go to help support Direct Relief and MusiCares.

Guests for this episode include Valerie June, Chris Eldridge, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Molly Tuttle, Langhorne Slim, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Indigo Girls, Chris Thile, Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith, Matt Diffee, Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal, Stephen Colbert, and more.

Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wECxV34JZE

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May 12 –  What has Direct Relief learned after delivering more than 10,000 shipments during this pandemic? Direct Relief staff journalist Talya Meyers reports:
Learning and Adapting as the Covid-19 Pandemic Evolves

More than 1,000 shipments of protective gear are prepped for shipment in Direct Relief’s warehouse on May 7, 2020, in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

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Fandom, an entertainment media brand that “helps fans explore, contribute to, and celebrate the world of movies, TV and gaming” has created six events to help fans stay connected during the pandemic, and will help contribute to Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response.

Read more about the events here:
Fandom Launches Six Fan-Focused Initiatives to Super-Serve Fans Around the World

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One of Direct Relief’s partner longtime clinics was featured in the Naples (Fla.) Daily News:
Neighborhood Health Clinic receives donation from St. Matthew’s House

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Lorraine Schwartz has created an online pop-up store to help support Direct Relief and other charities with 30% of all sales for the next three months.

Check it out here:
https://lorraineschwartz.com

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May 11 – Grammy-wining band Bon Iver premiered their new music video today for the song “PDLIF” today on Direct Relief’s website.

Check it out here:
Bon Iver Debuts Video for New Single “Please Don’t Live in Fear”

Bon Iver’s new song, “Please Don’t Live in Fear” debuted last month, and a new video has just been released. (Photo by Graham Tolbert and Crystal Quinn)

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Latest Covid-19 shipment info from Direct Relief. Shipments for Covid-19 relief now top 10,000.
Direct Relief Delivers Protective Gear Nationwide to Health Clinics and Hospitals

Direct Relief’s newest video also posted today:

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A new sports league is coming to NBC for the next several weekends — Drone League Racing:

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Gamers Without Borders continues its charity tournaments until June 7. An update:

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May 10 – Happy Mother’s Day from Direct Relief!

Over the past week, Direct Relief delivered over 1 million surgical masks, 1 million face shields, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to 1,230 non-profit health clinics and hospitals in all 50 U.S. states that are playing a critical role in the fight against Covid-19.

The shipments were transported by FedEx and contained face shields donated by Apple and 3M, masks donated by AstraZeneca and Cisco, and essential products donated by Vaseline and others.

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May 9 – Julia Louis-Dreyfus is on Instagram Live today with her mom, to help benefit Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response:

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Gamers Without Borders concluded their Rainbow 6 esports tournament in the North American region with Oxygen Esports overtaking eUnited in Rainbow 6 Siege:

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May 8 –  Latest news coverage from Direct Relief:

Talya Meyers reports on how doctors are helping one another cope with the pandemic:
Mental Health Providers are Caring for Frontline Workers, Sometimes in Just One Phone Call

Psychiatrists at the Physician Support Line hold signs. The hotline provides 24-hour support to physicians who call in. (Photo courtesy of Mona Masood)

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Shinedown has helped support Direct Relief during this pandemic through a benefit song, merch sales, TV interviews, social media outreach, and more.

Full coverage of the band’s philanthropic work in Forbes:
Shinedown Raise $250K For Direct Relief Via New T-Shirt And Song Bundle – Brent Smith On ‘Atlas Falls’

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UFC is helping support Covid-19 relief with proceeds from their face coverings.

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Coming up this weekend:

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May 7 – Direct Relief has donated $1 million to Santa Barbara health care clinics to support them during this pandemic.

The funds came from Direct Relief’s operating reserves.

Full coverage from KEYT, a CBS, Fox, and ABC local news affiliate:
Direct Relief provides $1 million to support neighborhood clinics in Santa Barbara

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Tiger Woods has selected Direct Relief as one of the charities he will be supporting in an upcoming golf tournament with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Phil Mickelson.

The PGA Tour-approved event will air live this month on TNT, according to Fox Business News.

Full coverage here:
Brady, Manning, Tiger, Mickelson playing coronavirus charity golf match in May

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Latest coverage from Direct Relief News:
Amarica Rafanelli covers why Direct Relief’s Research and Analysis team sees reason for concern as states begin to reopen:
As States Reopen Covid-19 Death Rate Expected To Climb

The population map is a result of a collaboration between Facebook Data for Good and COVID-19 Mobility Data Network, of which Direct Relief is a founding member.

Contributor Leah Campbell reports on how Native Alaskan villages, which suffered greatly from Spanish Flu, are responding to this pandemic:
Native Alaskan Villages, Once Devastated by Spanish Flu, Are Taking Action Against Covid-19

Supplies arrive in the community of Red Devil, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of The Kuskokwim Corporation)

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May  6 –  Thomas Tighe, CEO of Direct Relief, spoke to Cal Matters on the current PPE procurement environment:

“A strong desire to protect our health workers does lend itself to being exploited for financial gain by folks who are out to make money.”

Read the full story in Cal Matters:
CA sends $457 mil for masks, then cancels

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Whiskey Sour Happy Hour is a weekly music and charity event hosted by Ed Helms. Today’s episode features Direct Relief CEO Thomas Tighe along with Caitlin Canty & Noam Pikelny, Avi Kaplan, Shakey Graves, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, Jerry Douglas, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, and Jim Gaffigan, plus surprise guests.

Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjTOxY9w1L8

The final episode streams next Wednesday.

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Kevin Hart and Fabletics are partnering to help support Direct Relief.

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Updates from Puerto Rico: Direct Relief’s Puerto Rico team was in the south delivering personal care and other items to the newly homeless from the recent 5.6-magnitude earthquake

Direct Relief’s Puerto Rico team responds to earthquakes in the island’s south on May 6, 2020. (Direct Relief)
A damaged house in the south of Puerto following a 5.4-magnitude earthquake that rattled the island on May 2, with aftershocks reverberating since. (Direct Relief)
Direct Relief staff wear protective gear at HealthProMed health center in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 5. Local staff have been responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and working to distributed medical aid and financial support to local medical facilities. (Direct Relief photo)

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May 5 – A general update on Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response to date:

Since February, Direct Relief has delivered more than 9,000 shipments to more than 1,700 health care facilities across all 50 States and 62 countries.

These shipments included more than 3.3 million masks, 2.8 million gloves, 105,000 gowns and coveralls, 640 oxygen concentrators and ventilators, 3,100 face shields, and 40.1 million doses of medications to treat a range of chronic and acute health conditions.

In addition, Direct Relief has established a $27 million grant program to support primary care safety net facilities that serve low-income communities with high percentages of people who are vulnerable.

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, this is the largest-ever philanthropic commitment to U.S. safety-net clinics.

To help inform policy and decisions, Direct Relief has created a series of information products in partnership with Facebook and the Harvard T.H. Chan Schools of Public Health that have been shared with California government agencies as well as those of several other states and cities.
Examples include the following:
https://visualization.covid19mobility.org/
https://covid19.cambersystems.com/

COVID-19 Mobility Data Network screenshot (Facebook/ Direct Relief)

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Barbra Streisand has re-released “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on social media honor health care workers and help support Direct Relief supply them with PPE, supplies, and medicines.

Listen to the song here:

Read more in Rolling Stone:
Barbra Streisand Shares ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ Clip in Tribute to Healthcare Workers

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A message from Billie Eilish:

“I’m proud to partner with direct relief in helping get those on the frontlines the supplies and support they deserve. thank you for showing you care. stay safe, i love you”

Proceeds from sales of STAY HOME Tour T-shirts and the Blohsh cloth face covering will go towards Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response:
https://store.billieeilish.com/

See Eilish’s latest video here:

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May 4 – In case you missed it, check out the Washington Post’s profile video of Direct Relief:
Hospitals battling coronavirus are short on vital supplies. This aid group is rushing to help.

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Shinedown has released a new song to help benefit Direct Relief’s Covid-19 work.
Listen to it here:

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May 3 – Happening now, #FromMilanWithLove a livestream concert presented by AC Milan & Roc Nation, hosted by DJ Khaled:

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A Direct Relief shipment that arrived in Barcelona last week:

And a shipment that arrived in Texas last week, which was sent to the Northwest Volunteer Fire Department in Harris County:

Northwest Volunteer Fire Department (Harris County, Texas) members in front of a Direct Relief shipment of PPE and supplies. (Photo Courtesy of NWVFD)

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May 2 – It’s an (almost) Seinfeld reunion today on Instagram Live, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jason Alexander teaming up— to help support Direct Relief’s efforts to support frontline health are workers with PPE, medical supplies, and medicines.

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Coverage of Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response at NPR/ PRI/ API-affiliate KCLU:
South Coast Nonprofit Plays Key Part In Coronavirus Battle, Sending Medical Supplies Around World

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May 1 – Direct Relief released a new mini-doc today, showing a “behind the scenes” look at the lives of 3 LA community health care providers during this pandemic.

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Latest data from Direct Relief’s Research and Analysis team-
Current states with highest 3-day rolling growth rate in Covid-19 case counts:
Minnesota: 8.9% – Stay at home orders expire Monday
Iowa: 7.6% – state re-opens today
North Dakota: 6.0% – state re-opens today
To compare, CA 3-day rolling growth rate of new Covid cases is 2.2%

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Happening today:
Seinfeld and Veep Star Julia Louis-Dreyfus will be on The Ellen Show today to help raise funds for Direct Relief.
It airs at 4pm on NBC or you can catch it at:
https://www.ellentube.com/

Bon Iver will be donating all proceeds from his new song on Bandcamp today to help support Direct Relief.

Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor is auctioning off guitars to benefit Direct Relief’s Covid-19 efforts on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/e/charity/corey-taylor
Full story in Rolling Stone:
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor to Auction Off Guitars for COVID-19 Relief

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Scheduled for Sunday, a special event featuring AC Milan, DJ Khaled, and Roc Nation.

Read about it here in the New York Times:
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world

Performers will include Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Robin Thicke, Gavin Rossdale and Chris Traynor of Bush, Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons, and Lola Ponce. Additional appearances will be made by global artists and athletes including Jonas Brothers, Kaká, Thierry Henry, Carlo Cracco, Danilo Gallinari, and Jannik Sinner.

Be sure to tune in on any of the following platforms:
AC Milan Official App
AC Milan YouTube, Facebook, Twitter
Milan TV – DAZN
TIDAL (media embed code: https://embed.tidal.com/#/videos/139487281)

Ongoing through June 7:
Gaming Without Borders: elite gamers will unite to compete in both gaming and esports tournaments. The winners will give their shares of $10 million prize money to an international charity of their choices. Current charities include WHO, GAVI, and Direct Relief.
More info here:
https://vgwb.org/

May 18:
Gillette Gaming Alliance: Nate Hill, a top pro Fortnite player, will be playing for Direct Relief during this tournament. More details to follow.
Check out Hill’s Twitch page here:
https://www.twitch.tv/natehill

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Andrew Schroeder, Direct Relief VP of Research, on how he and his team are using Qlik to analyse data and optimize Direct Relief’s Covid-19 efforts:
Delivering Aid Exponentially: How Data Analysis from Qlik Drives Direct Relief’s Rapid Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

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Latest shipment news:
11 ICU kits have been sent out this week to hospitals in Connecticut and New York.

Additional shipments of PPE, medical supplies, and medicines this week have gone to community health clinics, hospitals, shelters, and U.S. federal and county government agencies in Florida, California, Kansas, New York, Louisiana, and Texas.

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Coronavirus Response: Live Stories by Month:

June

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March

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