In an effort to increase the volume of much-needed medical gear as Canadian healthcare workers continue to work around the clock to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada Goose announced today that that it will be leveraging its manufacturing facilities to begin producing said gear. 

Canada Goose says it will produce scrubs and patient gowns, which are in short supply across the country, and will begin distributing them to hospitals next week.

Canada Goose announced they will make hospital gowns and surgical scrubs for frontline healthcare workers. Companies like this will get my future business ❤️ #covid19Canada

— Melissa (@melissa_saf) March 25, 2020

So far, the company has committed to producing personal protective equipment (PPE) at two of its facilities, in Toronto and Winnipeg, but will consider extending production across additional facilities as needed.

Production is set to start at the beginning of next week, and approximately 50 employees in each facility will work to manufacture the gear with an initial goal of producing 10,000 items.

"Across Canada, there are people risking their lives every day on the frontlines of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities, and they need help. Now is the time to put our manufacturing resources and capabilities to work for the greater good," said Dani Reiss, president and CEO of Canada Goose, in a statement. 

"Our employees are ready, willing and able to help, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s the Canadian thing to do."

@canadagoose Stepping up to the plate to #CancelCOVID as we pivot to rise to the challenge and properly equip our frontline! #CovidEconomy https://t.co/TrSt7PQnZb

— Janice Williams (Fight The Virus NOT each other) (@AwaitingJuno) March 25, 2020

The company has also implemented several measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its employees at this time, including implementing social distancing protocols, limiting the number of employees located within specific spaces and increasing sanitation measures within facilities.

It also recently announced the Canada Goose Employee Support fund for employees who are impacted by store and manufacturing closures but are not eligible for government assistance. 

Reiss announced that he will forego his salary for at least the next three months in order to pay for the fund. 

Health officials in Canada have been warning that a shortage of PPE is imminent, and several other companies have stepped up and announced plans to shift production. 

Still, the federal government has put out an urgent call to any company capable of supplying products and services in support of Canada's response to COVID-19.