States Need Medical Supplies to Fight Coronavirus. Can the National Stockpile Keep Up With Demand?

The outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States is the latest test for the federally managed Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a secretive stash of medical supplies and equipment that the government has stored in case of emergencies. As the virus spreads throughout the United States — there are now more than 700 confirmed cases and nearly 30 people have died — the way that lifesaving supplies like masks and respirators are doled out from the nation’s repository to states with high case loads will mark a critical proving ground for the efficacy of the Trump administration’s response, which has been criticized as insufficient and short-sighted to deal with a public health crisis of this magnitude. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which manages the SNS, has already made clear that the stockpile may not be able to meet the demands of the growing outbreak. And it is already being tested, as at least two states scrambling to contain the spreading coronavirus have requested shipments of emergency supplies. Last week, Massachusetts requested personal protective equipment from the stockpile including face masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection, according to Monica Bharel, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Bharel said that request had been approved on March 10. “Those supplies are on the way,” she said at a press conference that day. “At this time, our health care system has enough, but we...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Source Type: news