Lansing Sun

Businesses throughout Michigan are trying to secure personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers as the state prepares to reopen the economy amid COVID-19.

“We’ve had a group studying the PPE supply chain carefully to make sure that if we ask workers to go back to work, we don’t put pressure on hospitals or have businesses unable to get their hands on what they need,” DTE Energy Chairman Gerry Anderson, who serves as a cochair on the team advising Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on reopening the economy, told The Manchester Mirror.

Among the companies supplying businesses with needed protective equipment is Akervall Technologies of Saline, which shifted its manufacturing of mouth guards to producing face shields.

“I think that the need is kind of endless,” CEO Sassa Akervall told The Manchester Mirror. “The PPE is going to be here to stay, and I think that both hospitals and all kinds of other businesses are going to have to need these in stock. So I think there’s going to be a permanent need for this.”

Another supplier helping businesses is Alfie Logo Gear in Traverse City. The company is selling cloth masks, face shields and hand sanitizers through its newly launched Back to Work Safely Gear website. Alfie is especially helpful for small businesses, as its products are available in small quantities, such as an order of 48 face masks or 10 face shields.

The Small Business Administration of Michigan (SBAM) is collaborating with the state to develop a network of PPE suppliers.

“Everybody knows that they’re going to need to do this, so there’s a lot of companies working to source it,” SBAM President Brian Calley told The Manchester Mirror.

While Michigan’s stay-at-home order has been extended through May 28, manufacturing facilities have been allowed to resume operations. Employees must implement safety measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including temperature screenings, requiring workers to wear masks when they can’t maintain a distance of 6 feet from others, and training workers on the use of PPE.