All Your Favorite TV Doctors Are Donating Masks to Help the Coronavirus Shortage

TV doctors are doing their part to help real-life doctors. No, the actors that viewers know and love aren't scrubbing up and getting medical degrees, the show's production crews are donating supplies to hospitals and first responders, since many of the shows have shut down production due to safety concerns around the spread of coronavirus. The Daily Beast reports that hospitals across the country and around the world are short on supplies, with nurses having to fashion their own out of office supplies, because civilians are purchasing masks and creating a shortage. Shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Station 19 have stepped up and other medical dramas are joining the effort, too.

"At Station 19, we were lucky enough to have about 300 of the coveted N95 masks which we donated to our local fire station," showrunner Krista Vernoff said in a statement. "They were tremendously grateful." The show donated N95 masks to Los Angeles's Station 35 firehouse in Los Feliz.

<p>Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images</p>

Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images

RELATED:

"At Grey’s Anatomy, we have a backstock of gowns and gloves, which we are donating as well," Vernoff added. "We are all overwhelmed with gratitude for our healthcare workers during this incredibly difficult time, and in addition to these donations, we are doing our part to help them by staying home."

Fox's The Resident also donated supplies, including masks, surgical gloves, surgical gowns, booties, and protective headgear. The supplies went to Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. Karen Law, a rheumatologist at Grady, posted a photo of the shipment to her Instagram account.

"Yesterday, I had a serious discussion with the residents about how, though supplies are low, a magical shipment of masks is unlikely to arrive," she wrote. "And yet, a magical shipment of masks DID arrive, in the form of this very generous gesture. This kind of community support means so much to our #frontlineproviders who are making many sacrifices to staff our hospitals and care for our community ... We needed this kind of good news today."

The Daily Beast adds that The Good Doctor, another ABC medical drama, is also prepping a donation to be made in Vancouver, Canada, where the show films.

The coronavirus pandemic is unfolding in real time, and guidelines change by the minute. We promise to give you the latest information at time of publishing, but please refer to the CDC and WHO for updates.