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TELUS Has Donated 10,000 Smartphones To Hospitalized Patients Across Canada

By Blair StutzView Author PostsApr 22nd 2020

Instagram/@cmhakelowna

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has disrupted the daily lives of people all over the world. It’s even harder for folks who are hospitalized and their families because hospitals aren’t allowing any visitors due to the possibility of infection. To help those hospitalized stay in touch with their families, TELUS has made an extremely generous donation to help.

The telecommunications giant has donated 10,000 smartphones to organizations and hospitals across the country.

“The TELUS team is deeply committed to keeping our country’s most vulnerable citizens safe and connected during this health emergency,” said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO of TELUS, in a release.

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We’re giving over 10,000 free mobile devices and $0 rate plans to help isolated seniors, hospitalized patients and vulnerable Canadians as part of our new Mobility For Good COVID-19 Emergency Response program. In the past four weeks, we’ve already donated more than 6,000 mobile devices to hundreds of organizations across the country, enabling vital connections for those who need it most. #AllConnectedForGood 💜

A post shared by TELUS (@telus) on Apr 20, 2020 at 1:59pm PDT

Many COVID-19 patients don’t have mobile devices so this will help them stay in touch and feel less alone while in the hospital.

The smartphones come with a $0 rate, including 3GB of data and unlimited nationwide talk and text per month.

The donated phones have already started arriving at Toronto’s Mt. Sinai Hospital. In addition to patients staying in touch with their families, the smartphones also allow for hospital workers to communicate without the threat of infection.

Plus, if a patient is intubated or are unable to talk, they can still hear and see their loved ones through the device.

“This will provide solace for the family especially, and staff who are watching people die alone, unable to comfort them,” said Dr. Allan Detsky CM, former physician in chief at Mount Sinai Hospital.

This isn’t all that TELUS is doing to help with the current COVID-19 pandemic either.

The company is spending $10 million to purchase new medical equipment for hospitals, including ventilators. If that’s not enough, it’s increased support to food banks, outreach to isolated seniors, virtual education programs, and mental health initiatives. Plus, its CEO and President Darren Entwistle has donated his whole 2020 salary to the cause.