Nike to Manufacture Protective Face Shields During Coronavirus Pandemic

Nike announced plans to produce personal protective equipment Tuesday, including full-face shields and powered, air-purifying respirator lenses to aid in protection against the coronavirus.

The company, which is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, will be working with Oregon Health & Science University, with OHSU's workers becoming the first field testers of the equipment. 

Miko Enomoto, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at OHSU, issued a statement in the release:

"Without proper facial protection, healthcare workers are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, which could place substantial strain on the healthcare workforce in the months ahead. The full-face shields help protect healthcare workers’ faces and also help to prolong the length we can safely use a surgical or N95 mask. Nike's generous response to the COVID-19 crisis helps to instill an added layer of confidence and support for healthcare workers, that we can safely carry out the jobs we were born to do."

Nike delivered the first shipment of personal protective equipment to OHSU on April 3. The apparel company plans to use its production resources to manufacture large quantities of masks, which will include a reimagining of Nike Air soles.

Danny Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, president, OHSU, also issued a statement:

"OHSU's mission is to support the health and well-being of all Oregonians, and we can't do that without adequate supplies of personal protective equipment. I've been so inspired by how our community has united to meet this health crisis. We are forever grateful to the commitment of our colleagues at Nike, as their dedication to our united effort will help save lives."

During a conference on March 24, CEO John Donahoe announced Nike would be prototyping PPE such as face shields, per Shoshy Ciment of Business Insider.  

Hospitals around the country have experienced a shortage of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been more than 380,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. and 11,931 deaths.