"WASHINGTON — After the first alarms sounded in early January that an outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China might ignite a global pandemic, the Trump administration squandered nearly two months that could have been used to bolster the federal stockpile of critically needed medical supplies and equipment.
A review of federal purchasing contracts by The Associated Press shows federal agencies largely waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers.
By that time, hospitals in several states were treating thousands of infected patients without adequate equipment and were pleading for shipments from the Strategic National Stockpile. That federal cache of supplies was created more than 20 years ago to help bridge gaps in the medical and pharmaceutical supply chains during a national emergency."
Michael Biesecker reports for the Associated Press April 5, 2020.
SEE ALSO:
"The U.S. Was Beset By Denial And Dysfunction As The Coronavirus Raged" (Washington Post)
"Tensions Persist Between Trump and Medical Advisers Over the Coronavirus" (New York Times)
"Fact Check: A Timeline Of How President Trump Responded To The Coronavirus" (WGN)
"Alarm, Denial, Blame: The Pro-Trump Media’s Coronavirus Distortion" (New York Times)
"The Trump Administration’s Botched Coronavirus Response, Explained" (Vox)
