The New Hampshire Health Care Association reported that large amounts of the personal protective equipment sent to nursing homes by the federal government have been unusable, according to an article on the Concord Monitor website.
Some face masks with paper ear loops were too brittle and broke when stretched. Some shipments included cloth masks, which are not considered adequate protection in a clinical setting.
A Manchester nursing home administrator received 1,800 extra-small gloves on Thursday that were nearly useless for a full staff of adults.
In New Hampshire, 80 percent of the COVID-19 deaths have been residents of nursing homes, the highest percentage in the country and nearly double the national average.