NEW: Healthcare providers across the country are asking how they can access strategic stockpiles of critical equipment, bracing for the possibility of a shortage as the influx of patients grows.
11 min readEarly cases of COVID-19 are believed to be linked to a live-animal market in Wuhan, China.
Nearly a dozen state health officials reached by ABC News expressed varying degrees of concern about resource levels if the disease spreads. None of them anticipated having enough equipment in the event of a spike in transmissions. In a statement to ABC News, HHS confirmed it “has received requests from multiple entities and is obtaining additional information regarding their intended use of the requested personal PPE.”
“I worry about the availability and the need for protective gear,” said Tom Bossert, a former Homeland Security advisor and ABC News contributor. “I worry about our healthcare providers who are in the trenches because any one of them could end up suffering an onslaught of more demand than they have supply. And in a medical capacity when that happens, people can die – and often do.”
Delaware state officials have ordered a 120-day supply of PPE from the Strategic National Stockpile. In Louisiana, a state official reported that companies it normally uses for PPE needs is on back order due to high demand. In Washington, for example, where more deaths have been reported than any other state, officials only received half of their requested order of N95 masks last week. The remainder of that order was ultimately released after public outcry from lawmakers. Officials in Washington made a second request for PPE on Sunday and were told on Monday it would be fulfilled.
Federal officials appear to recognize that reality. As part of their efforts to avoid gear shortages, government administrators are leaning on private sector manufacturers to scale up production of the most important equipment – and engaging other industries in a search for creative solutions. The Minnesota-based conglomerate 3M, for example, has ramped up global production, running shifts 24-hours a day, hiring new workers, and activating more production lines, earning praise from Vice President Mike Pence.
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