Nike Making Prototypes of Face Shields for Doctors and Nurses in Oregon

As COVID-19 is ripping through the globe, sports giant Nike is preparing to make prototypes of face shields to protect doctors and nurses while they try to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to Business Insider.

Nike had recently announced its efforts to assist in coronavirus relief by committing more than $15 million toward the relief effort to support communities where its employees live and work.

In its latest move in that promise, CEO John Donahoe announced on a conference call on Tuesday that Nike is prototyping personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields to assist the many doctors and nurses working to help bring the outbreak to an end. With guidance from the healthcare workers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), they will make sure this happens.

“Companies like Nike need to do our part,” the chief executive officer said on the call, where the company reported better than expected results for the third quarter. “Based on needs identified by the teams and health professionals at Oregon Health & Science University, our teammates are working right now about how to best help, including prototyping face shields of OHSU and others.”

In a statement to Business Insider, Nike said that it will be launching this initiative with OHSU and focusing on supporting Oregon healthcare workers to start.  

Earlier this month, Donahoe and other current and former Nike executives joined in making a $7 million donation to OHSU in support of its efforts to combat and treat the deadly COVID-19 in Oregon. “OHSU is extremely grateful to the team at Nike for their generous offer to help OHSU in our coordination with other health systems during this unprecedented time,” OHSU said in a statement to Business Insider.

“We are committed to ongoing discussions regarding their efforts to develop prototype face shields to help ensure the safety and well-being of health care professionals.”

Last year, Nike unveiled the Air Zoom Pulse, a shoe designed for medical workers, also in conjunction with employees at OHSU.