LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Port of Los Angeles continues to operate all of its terminals, as it tries to move more medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare providers, according to its executive director.
“There is a critical need in Southern California for N-95 masks, other masks, ventilators that are both intrusive and non-intrusive, IV-drip apparatus and other medical supplies,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We are trying to move these supplies quickly to hospitals and health care providers.”
On Sunday, Seroka was appointed the city's chief logistics officer by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to take on additional duties of matching available medical supplies with healthcare providers.
Seroka said through the city's initiative Logistics Victory Los Angeles, or LOVE LA, the port will work with those healthcare providers to deliver the medical supplies where it is needed.
People and businesses that can offer medical supplies and masks are asked to email LoVLA@portla.org.
He said balancing the supply chain will be essential to delivering medical supplies faster, and he said the largest cargo ship to dock at a Western Hemisphere port arrived in Los Angeles Wednesday to help move containers that need to be returned to Asia.
“Admist this public health crisis, there will be uncertain months ahead in the global supply chain,” he said. “That said, we are operating continuously and efficiently ready to meet the needs of our regional and national economies.”
The port is continuing to operate at about 80% of normal operations during this time of the year, he said.
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