Ten nurses have been suspended at a Santa Monica, California, hospital after refusing to care for COVID-19 patients without being given protective N95 face masks.
The nurses, who work at Providence Saint John's Health Center, allege administrators said the masks were not necessary and did not provide them, the Associated Press reported.
When the nurses refused to work without them, the hospital suspended them, according to the National Nurses Union, which represents them, AP reported.
The 10 nurses are now being paid but not allowed to return to work pending an investigation from human resources, the union said.
Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not require N95 masks for COVID-19 caregivers, but many hospitals are opting for the added protection because the infection has proven to be extremely contagious, AP reported.
The CDC said Wednesday at least 9,200 health-care workers have been infected.
Saint John's said in a statement, as of Tuesday, it was providing N95 masks to all nurses caring for COVID-19 patients and those awaiting test results.
"It's no secret there is a national shortage," said the statement.
The hospital would not comment on the suspended nurses.
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