The shortage of medical supplies due to the impact of COVID-19 is now a worldwide problem.
According to FEMA administrator Peter Gaynor, the federal government is prepared to “go to zero” in its stockpile of face masks to meet pressuring demand nationwide. Earlier this week, Gaynor announced the government will be sending shipments of masks to the most critical viral “hot spots” in the nation.
The official also urged Americans who do not have symptoms to forgo testing. He suggested unnecessary testing goes against efforts to handle the outbreak.
Gaynor insisted that the government will meet the demand for medical supplies, but called the widespread need for supplies a “global problem.”
“We’re going to try and meet every need in the nation, but a word of caution,” stated Gaynor. “The supplies that governors are looking for are the same supplies that every other country in the world is looking for, so this is a global problem.”
Former DHS Chief Kevin McAleenan, has said that COVID-19 poses a “very different threat,” making it harder to contain.
However, the Trump administration has ramped up efforts to end the outbreak and protect public health. According to McAleenan, officials have launched a new phase of their battle against the virus.
In a statement to the press, McAleenan, said, “State and local governors are fully engaged. You’ve got the coronavirus task force, you’ve got the private sector now. 20 vaccines, according to the World Health Organization, already in testing. You’ve got anti-viral treatments that are on the therapeutic side, might make an impact. That’s what we want to see, everybody moving in a complimentary direction.”
He added that the U.S. is now halfway through the 15-day period to contain spread of the virus. He further suggested the situation will improve a week from now.
As of the writing of this post, there are 64,775 known cases of COVID-19 in the US, and 910 reported deaths.