Washington Governor Jay Inslee is asking state manufacturers to start producing personal protective equipment, saying the federal government has not been able to re-supply the state fast enough to meet the growing need amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
Inslee says that while more than 1 million pieces of personal protective equipment — from the federal and state supply, hospitals and donations — have already been delivered across the state, it is not enough.
The governor says he hopes manufacturers would be willing to shift to making things like surgical and N95 masks, swab tests, saline solution, vials, gloves, surgical gowns and face shields.
Officials with the Association of Washington Business say they have been working with the state Department of Commerce for the past few weeks to determine how companies could help.
The Commerce Department says about 350 manufacturers have already reached out, and many are already producing — including about 40 distilleries that are now making hand sanitizer, and outdoor apparel company Outdoor Research, which is now making hundreds of thousands of surgical and protective masks.
Inslee encouraged other companies to reach out through a website the state set up if they would like to sign on.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged that the federal stockpile is nearly depleted of personal protective equipment used by doctors and nurses to shield themselves from the coronavirus. (AP)
