The federal stockpile of N95 respirators, gloves, gowns, surgical masks, and other equipment needed to care for patients with COVID-19 is now nearly depleted, according to reports from the Associated Press and other news outlets.
A statement from the Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that about 90% of federally held personal protective equipment has been distributed to state and local governments.
The remaining 10% of PPE in the stockpile is reserved for federal workers and will not be distributed to the states, according to a statement by Carolyn B. Maloney, chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
“Now that the national stockpile has been depleted of critical equipment, it appears that the administration is leaving states to fend for themselves, to scour the open market for these scarce supplies, and to compete with each other and federal agencies in a chaotic, free-for-all bidding war,” Maloney said.
Meanwhile, healthcare care workers have taken to social media, posting selfies wearing homemade masks and trash bags over their scrubs, NBC reports.
