U.S. exported millions in masks, ventilators, other PPE ahead of coronavirus crisis here
U.S. exports of surgical masks, ventilators and other personal protective gear to China skyrocketed in January and February, when the coronavirus was wreaking havoc in the country where it began and as U.S. intelligence agencies warned it would soon spread.
The data show how U.S. manufacturers stepped up production and cleared out inventory to supply protective medical equipment to China for weeks, even as the threat of the coronavirus became clear. The CDC reported its first case in the United States on Jan. 20. Within the next two weeks, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had declared the disease a public health emergency.
Jesse Wang, co-founder of LuggEasy, a company that provides shipping services to Chinese residents in the U.S., confirmed the surge of masks exports in February. His company exported 14,000 to 15,000 pounds of masks from the U.S. to China in early 2020 alone. The price of ventilators vary from about $20,000 to $50,000 depending on the model, meaning the U.S. sent anywhere from 540 to 1,360 of them to China in January and February alone.
Exports of other protective garments, like surgical suits, skyrocketed, too. The U.S. shipped more than $271,000 worth of such supplies to China in January – nine times more than the previous January, the data show. In February, those shipments reached $13.4 million. Moskowitz is not alone. The mayors of 192 cities across the country said in a survey released Friday that they do not have sufficient face masks for their first responders and medical personnel, and 186 cities said they faced a shortage of other personal protective equipment.
“We will fairly soon be at a point where we have far more than we can use, even after we stockpile for some future catastrophe, which we hope doesn’t happen,” Trump said. “We’re going to be distributing to countries around the world. We’ll go to Italy, we’ll go to France, we’ll go to Spain.” A week later, Trump issued an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act that gives the federal government the power to force companies to produce medical equipment and fulfill needs related to national defense before any other contracts.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Factories pivot to make PPE but decry lack of government direction - Business InsiderA Maine textiles factory pivoted to making face shields and gowns for hospitals. The owner says the marketplace is like 'an air traffic control tower with nobody in it' and the government needs to step in.
Consulte Mais informação »
Biotechnology, Fashion Collide in Partnership for Antimicrobial PPEChargeurs Fashion Technologies and Noble Biomaterials created an antimicrobial mask for health-care industry workers.
Consulte Mais informação »
Coronavirus Daily: Ventilator Shortages; 6.6 Million New Unemployment Claims on Apple Podcasts6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week — doubling the record-setting numbers from the week before. Plus, when it comes to COVID-19, ventilators do not guarantee survival. 🎧 Coronavirus Daily has the latest:
Consulte Mais informação »
LAPD officers will wear masks or coverings as a coronavirus precautionLAPD officers will wear face masks, coverings as coronavirus precaution
Consulte Mais informação »
On brink of coronavirus crisis, Japan PM offers masks, gets social media roastingFacing calls to declare a coronavirus state of emergency, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was flamed on social media on Thursday for instead offering people free cloth masks, pointing to growing frustration for some over his handling of the crisis.
Consulte Mais informação »
U.S. senators join calls for Americans to don masks to slow coronavirus spreadTwo U.S. senators joined a growing call on Wednesday for Americans to cover their mouths and noses when they venture outside, as health officials consider recommending that everyone in the country don face masks to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Consulte Mais informação »