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US 'Wasted' Months Before Preparing for Virus Pandemic

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - As 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.

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