Elon Musk Delivers 1,000 Respirators To Californian Hospitals

Elon Musk has come through with the goods after promising to make ventilators for American hospitals.

Californian Governor Gavin Newsom told a press conference that the tech genius has delivered the first batch of devices to hospitals around Los Angeles.

Mr Newsom added: "I told you a few days ago that [Musk] was likely to have 1,000 ventilators this week.

"They arrived in Los Angeles and Elon Musk is already working with the hospital association and others to get those ventilators out in real time. It's an heroic effort."

The Tesla and SpaceX boss announced via social media last week that his factories were doing what they could amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We're working on ventilators, even though I think there will not be a shortage by the time we can make enough to matter," Musk said to a follower.

It's a mammoth effort during tough times but the devices will no doubt go a long way to helping people afflicted with Covid-19.

Some of the people who will be hospitalised for coronavirus will need to be placed on a ventilator, which breathes for the body and gives the already overworked lungs some rest.

But American authorities have admitted that they only have around 160,000 ventilators ready for use in hospitals, with a little less than 9,000 held in national reserve, according to Business Insider.

PA

However, some estimates predict at least one million Americans will need a ventilator during the pandemic.

Musk also recently delivered loads of much-needed equipment to two major hospitals.

University of Washington School of Medicine received around 50,000 N95 masks from Tesla, while UCLA was given a truckload of PPE, including medical masks and gowns, according to Hollywood film director Peyton Reed.

But Musk isn't the only boss of a tech company to be helping out during the pandemic.

Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his platform: "Health workers urgently need more protective gear.

"To help, Facebook donated our emergency reserve of 720,000 masks that we had bought in case the wildfires continued. We're also working on sourcing millions of more to donate. I hope you're all staying healthy and safe!"

Apple CEO Tim Cook added: "Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We're donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you."

These efforts will no doubt make a huge impact in the fight against the virus.

Topics: News, Coronavirus

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie