PC peripheral maker Razer has retooled some manufacturing lines to produce and then donate protective masks where they are needed most. As the Coronavirus pandemic spreads, it has caused a shortage of crucial medical supplies in hotspots across the globe. One of the items in the shortest supply is protective masks like the ones Razer will be producing.
The announcement of the initiative came via Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan’s Twitter account on March 18. There, Tan revealed that Razer designers and engineers had been working around the clock to allow the company’s factories to produce up to one million protective masks. Initial deliveries of masks are bound for Singapore where the Razer SouthEast Asia headquarters is located.
A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report stated that the shortage of personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, had reached a level where health workers were being put at risk. Masks are essential protective equipment for health professionals whose work environment presents a high risk of infection. According to health experts like those at the Centers for Disease Control, however, they do not help prevent the spread of Coronavirus outside of a clinical setting, like a hospital.
That said, Tan is aware of the increased demand for Razer products now that so many are staying home and gaming for hours.
Razer made its name producing high-end gaming peripherals designed with esports in mind. This mask donation initiative is not the first philanthropic effort by the company though. Last October it produced a special line of products in support of breast cancer research and in the past has participated in gaming-related charity events such as Extra Life.
“While there has been incredible demand for our products during this time with many staying home to avoid the crowds (and to play games), the team at @Razer understands that all of us have a part to play in fighting the virus – no matter which industry we come from.”
According to that WHO report one of the causes of the shortage was hoarding. If you’re out there with a stash of masks collecting dust somewhere, now would be a good time to call your local hospital and volunteer to make a donation.
Source: Twitter
