The first suit for medical frontliners with direct exposure to patients with coronavirus has been approved by doctors.

Over the weekend (03/29), The Male Gaze vocalist and fashion designer Mich Dulce announced via Facebook that Infectious Diseases Specialist and Chief Medical Officer of the Medical City Sta. Rosa Laguna Dr. Jesus Julio Ancheta has given the Manila Protective Gear Sewing Club the go signal to push through with their custom protective suits. Vice President Leni Robredo facilitated the approval.

Robredo reveals in a statement that the pattern for the protective suit will be given free of charge to frontliners and that a separate fundraising campaign has already been established. "We can go full steam into production now," she writes. "The pattern is for everyone’s consumption. We will be producing in bulk but you can all have your local mananahis make them for your own health frontliners, specially those in the provinces."

The suits are made with Tafetta with Silver Back Lining, which is used to make umbrellas, and can be reused and disinfected. According to Dulce, the suit was first available in Large. Another pattern approved for women frontliners, created by Kendi Maristela, in Medium (with easy toilet access) has also been uploaded.

Join the Manila Protective Gear Sewing Club here and download the patterns for the COVID-19 suit here.

Check out Mich Dulce's announcements below.