COLUMBUS, Ohio — The state of Ohio is expanding its partnership with Battelle to provide quick sanitization for N95 masks being used by first responders across the state. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said this vital equipment is in short supply in Ohio.
Battelle, located in Columbus, will be providing the sanitization service for free to all of Ohio’s law enforcement agencies and EMS providers, DeWine announced Wednesday during his daily coronavirus briefing.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has developed a statewide collection and distribution system that will make the process as simple as possible for first responders, DeWine said. Beginning this Friday at 8 a.m., local law enforcement and EMS agencies can bring their packaged N95 masks to any OSHP post in the state. OSHP troopers will take those masks to Batelle in Columbus.
Battelle will then sanitize the masks. Highway Patrol officials will pick up the sanitized masks and bring them back to the highway patrol posts, where local agencies can then pick them up.
OSHP told DeWine that the turnaround time for collecting, sanitizing and redistributing the masks is expected to be about two to three days.
“This will contribute greatly to our efforts to protect Ohio protectors,” DeWine said. “We’re incredibly grateful for Battelle and salute them for the work that they’ve done. I want to thank the Department of Public Safety and The Ohio State Highway Patrol for coordinating this process.”
