Volume 7 • 2020 • Issue 5

On June 18, the federal government launched a PPE Supply Hub website to bring together available resources for organizations to buy and sell PPE. The website aims to connect Canadian organizations from coast to coast to coast with federal, provincial, territorial and other resources and information about PPE, including consumer guidance. For more, visit: canada. ca/en/public-services-procurement/services/buying-selling- personal-protective-equipment-covid-19-overview.html The CECRA was also extended to cover eligible small business rents for July. CDA has been lobbying for these specific changes and others to the CECRA to help make the program more accessible to dental offices. U.S. vs. Canadian PPE Stock Predicted Glove Shortages PPE Supply Hub It continues to be difficult for Canada to secure PPE from suppliers in the U.S. because these products are not allowed to be exported to Canada. Hospitals and other health care facilities in the U.S. have priority to deal with the current surge of cases in many states and to rebuild their stocks in efforts to be more prepared for a potential second wave of COVID-19 in the fall. Based on the current COVID-19 situational report in some states, Canada will likely not see any significant amount of PPE from the U.S. in the foreseeable future. CDA anticipates that the next PPE shortages will be for gloves. Due to the historical reliance on latex gloves, most glove producers are located in Asia where latex trees grow. Since the distribution of gloves is more diversified, Canada should not suffer the same type of supply chain issues as it did with gloves when China was shut down as a result of the pandemic. However, the supply chain will be impacted due to the increase in demand worldwide—not necessarily from the health care sector, but other areas such as the food and service industries, which now use more gloves than before. CDA will report new information as it becomes available. On July 6, Health Canada issued an advisory regarding counterfeit N95 respirators that were identified in Canada. Shanghai Lansheng Light Industrial Products was found to be selling counterfeit N95 respirators under another company's name (Shanghai Dasheng Health Products Manufacture Co. Ltd) and using its device number (DTC3X N95). The counterfeit respirators were falsely labeled, marketed and sold as NIOSH- approved. Health Canada advised the public to stop using these counterfeit products immediately, as they may not protect Canadians against the virus that causes COVID-19. For more, visit: healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/ hc‑sc/2020/73493a-eng.php Counterfeit N95 Respirators On July 10, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) was notified by FedEx of a new scam targeting dental offices across Canada. CAFC advised CDA that Canadian dental offices should be on the lookout for unsolicited packages arriving via FedEx claiming to contain PPE and other items such as equipment (e.g., monitors). These deliveries are part of a scheme that results in offices being charged for the subsequent delivery of these products to Bahrain. CAFC/RCMP recommended that these packages not be accepted at the time of delivery, but refused and returned to sender. This prevents dental offices from being held responsible for the unsuspected shipping charges. FedEx Scam Targeting Dental Offices CDA is actively promoting available mental health and wellness support through CDSPI’s Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) via social media, its Help Desk service, and on its website. MAP can be accessed by calling 1-844-578-4040 or visiting workhealthlife.com . Additionally, wellness posts are being featured on a regular basis on CDA Oasis. Mental Health and Wellness 17 Issue 5 | 2020 |