GCU using campus resources to contribute to coronavirus efforts

PHOENIX – With campus closed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Grand Canyon University is stepping up to help the community.

The University said on Friday that they’ll begin producing personal protective equipment, provide housing for first responders and will look to use the activity center to house non-COVID patients.

“These are unprecedented times that are creating hardships for many in our community,” GCU President Brian Mueller said in a press release Friday.

Starting next week, GCU will start to produce cotton face masks, plastic face shields and respirators.

The production of equipment will initially go to GCU’s health care workers, public safety officers, food service employees and students. From there, they’ll sell the PPE to partners in the health care industry and City of Phoenix.

Currently, GCU can produce more than 1,000 face masks per week and around 700 shields or respirators. The university will be purchasing 10 additional 3D printers to help production.

The GCU Hotel, which has been closed since March 23, opened on Thursday to house first responders on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Phoenix and Peoria Police, Phoenix Fire and potentially health care workers from GCU’s partners are among those to benefit from the service.

Additionally, the school’s Canyon Activities Center is being evaluated to potentially house an overflow of non-COVID patients from the Phoenix Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Representatives from the Phoenix VA will visit the 136,000-square foot facility on Monday to assess if it can be used as an alternative care site.

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