* AP…
The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of the N95 respirators, surgical masks, face, shields, gowns and other medical supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients.
The Department of Health and Human Services told The Associated Press Wednesday that the federal stockpile was in the process of deploying all remaining personal protective equipment in its inventory.
The HHS statement confirms federal documents released Wednesday by the House Oversight and Reform Committee showing that about 90% of the personal protective equipment in the stockpile has been distributed to state and local governments.
HHS spokeswoman Katie McKeogh said the remaining 10% will be kept in reserve to support federal response efforts. […]
Federal contracting records show HHS made an initial bulk order of N95 masks on March 12, followed by larger orders on March 21. But those contracts won’t yield big deliveries to the national stockpile until the end of April, after the White House has projected the pandemic will reach its peak.
* First, the federal government strictly limited the number of tests at first responder and medical worker drive-through sites to no more than 250 per day. And now this…
Some local officials are disappointed the federal government will end funding for coronavirus testing sites this Friday. In a few places those sites will close as a result. This as criticism continues that not enough testing is available. […]
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tells NPR, “Many of the Community-Based Testing Sites (CBTS) are not closing, but rather transitioning to state-managed sites on or about April 10.”
The agency and a spokesperson for FEMA say the CBTS program originally included 41 sites. It was intended as a stop-gap to bring testing to critical locations, especially for health care facility workers and first responders.
“The transition will ensure each state has the flexibility and autonomy to manage and operate testing sites within the needs of their specific community and to prioritize resources where they are needed the most,” the HHS spokesperson said.
It often feels like we are living through a worst-case scenario.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Congressmen Darin LaHood (IL-18) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) today announced that the federal government will extend their funding and support for the McLean County COVID—19 testing facility. Congressman LaHood and Davis released the following joint statement after their visit today at the site.
“Today, we are pleased join federal, state, and local officials in McLean County to announce that the federal government will extend their support and funding for the COVID—19 testing facility at the McLean County Fairgrounds,” said the Congressmen. “The coronavirus pandemic calls on each of us to put aside our political differences and work together to overcome this health and economic crisis. We are pleased that the federal government moved swiftly to expand their support Illinois’ testing ability.
“We also want thank the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Brig. Gen. Richard Neely, his servicemen and women, and the McLean County Health Department for their tireless work to keep this site running and our community safe. In Congress, we’ll continue to work with our colleagues and the White House in a bipartisan manner to support the McLean County testing site and Illinois’ response.”
- WeAreAVillage - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 9:57 am:
We ARE living through a worse case scenario, made even harder by apparent inability for Trump supporters to see his continuing demonstration of his incapacity to lead us during this time of crisis. Can we at least learn from our mistakes as we move forward?
- James the Intolerant - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:06 am:
Just give me one thing that I can hold onto.
Please.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:06 am:
While Gov. Cuomo discussed states buying as a “co-op” kinda bidding group… to outbid the federal government and FEMA… I ask this question;
Where is the NGA (National Governors Association)?
If this current administration continues to treat our country like we’re under the Articles of Confederation, and flat out ignoring and rewriting that part of FEMA where it’s mission now isn’t anything like it was hopefully designed to be, where is the NGA?
Oh, I get the “Red vs. Blue”, states and their governors, but if the blame by this administration will be placed on ALL governors, it should be ALL governors worried for their states, as this White House decides it won’t be held accountable, specifically here to materials needed to save lives and save those trying to save us all.
Where is the NGA?
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:16 am:
“I alone”…failed…miserably.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:26 am:
===Oh, I get the “Red vs. Blue”, states and their governors,===
OW, GOP governors know to keep their mouths shut. They will knuckle under and won’t lift a finger to help their Dem colleagues at all.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:30 am:
- Nick Name -
I’m not naive to the cult of Trumpkin leaders, and their deference to the leader, the rub will be, and it will be quite soon, the Trumpkins leading southern states that haven’t began to realize the issues they will have and those governors will be to blame because of the political aim of this administration.
Like all things during this crisis, it’s what’s coming ahead that’s worrisome, not the moment we look ahead at that challenge.
Respectfully.
Also, we will see how far all governors will go to take such pointed blame.
- SAP - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:34 am:
Unfortunately, gubernatorial loyalty to the Trump ideology will be measured in the stark toll human lives lost.
- frisbee - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 10:56 am:
“Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job”
To the Post,
Isn’t this where the President’s supreme negotiating skills should have been able to acquire the needed supplies? And where are the GOP critiques of nepotism when it comes to Kushner overseeing these supplies?
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 11:01 am:
=(…CBTS) are not closing, but rather transitioning to state-managed sites… =
Right. The wartime president - you know, just like 1941 when all the states procured their own aircraft and tanks, their own artillery, their own ammunition, developed their own intelligence….just like that. Remember?
- Kaynes - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 11:11 am:
Nice of the Illinois GOP Congressional to speak up and really go to bat for their districts and state.
- The Other Rich Hill - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 1:00 pm:
Rich - have been nose to the grindstone for work so pardon me if you already covered this.
The LA Times reported earlier this week that the Feds (likely FEMA) are confiscating PPE and other medical supplies that states are ordering from overseas and holding the material indefinitely instead of releasing it through customs.
Is that impacting Illinois at all?
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 2:06 pm:
OW–NGA is starting to coordinate some of this–obviously not as quick as we’d like, but this is also out of there typical processes
https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/04/08/just-madness-governors-mull-consortium-to-end-chaos-over-medical-supplies-1273929
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 2:13 pm:
- ArchPundit -
Yeah, Gov. Cuomo was, and has been, discussing, publicly this very thing.
My hope then is to all that… that the NGA makes clear what they’re doing, why, and the ridiculousness of them having to fight FEMA for things when FEMA itself should be leading all the states by a national response by a federal government.
I guess I’m pointing at the NGA doing FEMA’s job, and simultaneously also pointing out how ridiculous it is that NGA had to become FEMA.
- Huh? - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 3:14 pm:
So the US has gone to war, with a “war time president” who issues half a magazine of ammo and 1 rifle for 25 troops.
We’re cannon fodder.
- RDB - Thursday, Apr 9, 20 @ 8:19 pm:
Trump should have issued a nationwide stay-at-home order a few weeks ago instead of waiting for this patchwork response from the states. I’ve had conversations with people about the date businesses will reopen and the 4th of July; I wish we would have had a nationwide response so this wouldn’t drag out like it has. Every business and family affected by this should push hard for Trump to lose in November.