From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been hungry for more answers — we turn to the Google search bar, ask Siri or Amazon’s Alexa, and scroll endlessly on social media platforms to consume information that can keep us safe. We are lucky to have such a vast amount of data at our fingertips, but as we know, the internet can be a double-edged sword. With legitimate facts and scientifically backed studies comes just as much misinformation. The facts we do find can also be confusing. For example, face masks are one type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is commonly used by essential healthcare workers and the public, but that wasn’t the case at the start of the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) originally recommended face masks be worn by healthcare personnel only, but now the CDC suggests everyone should wear a mask when going out in public.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the acronym PPE is repeatedly plastered all over the internet and frankly, it’s overwhelming. In short, PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment, but there is a lot packed into those three letters. A simple web search produces over 7 million results and includes myriad topics such as the types of PPE, PPE use, reuse, and where it can be found during the pandemic. As a provider of PPE to the government and businesses, we at Winvale know that PPE is crucial for healthcare personnel and other essential workers fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic, and it’s also becoming increasingly important for civilians as they begin to head back into the office. But what really is PPE and why has it suddenly become such an important acronym?