Most U.S. hospitals will experience month-long disruption in N95 masks
Most U.S. hospitals are experiencing delays of three to five days on orders of N95 respirators, according to Chaun Powell, group vice president for strategic supplier engagement with Premier Inc., in a webinar. U.S. health systems typically purchase more than 2 million N95 respirators per month, and the majority are manufactured in countries that have stopped shipping to the U.S. because of increased demand in their own countries. All major U.S. distributors are using allocation protocols so that no hospital is shut out. Many providers are also rationing masks. Two U.S.-based companies, 3M and Prestige Ameritech, are full-line manufacturers of N95 respirators and they have not produced enough units to meet demand historically. Both companies are ramping up their production. “Barring no further outbreaks here in the U.S., we believe this could take up to about a month, but it would meet our current demand nationally and alleviate any reliance on overseas manufacturing for this critical item,” said Powell. Read more here.
Coronavirus bill to be introduced to secure healthcare supply chain
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) plans to introduce legislation Thursday aimed at securing the U.S. medical supply chain. The bill, entitled “The Medical Supply Chain Security Act,” would amend the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to add the words “or device,” to allow the FDA to monitor medical device shortages. The bill would change the words “shortage of a drug” for “shortage of a drug or device,” and allow the FDA to expedite the review of essential medical devices that require pre-market approval. Read more here.
South Korea sees another record spike; Japan to close all schools
South Korea confirmed 505 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday. That brings the total number of confirmed cases in South Korea to 1,766. It’s the sharpest 24-hour spike yet in South Korea, outnumbering the 433 new cases in China. Most new infections stemmed from the city of Daegu, according to the Korea CDC. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked all elementary, junior high and high schools to close from March 2 through spring break, which typically ends near the end of March in Japan. Abe’s comments came at a meeting of the government’s task force to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Read more worldwide updates here.
President Trump addresses nation about coronavirus; White House requests $2.5B in emergency funding
President Donald Trump and top U.S. health officials addressed the nation Wednesday as governments worldwide work to combat the spread of the new coronavirus. The CDC warned Tuesday the virus would spread in the U.S. and cause severe disruptions across the country. President Trump tried to lessen those concerns Wednesday, saying the virus was “very well under control in our country.” The White House requested $2.5 billion in emergency funding this week to combat the outbreak. Read more here.
First U.S. case of unknown origin confirmed in Northern California
Officials with the CDC confirmed the nation’s first coronavirus case of unknown origin Wednesday in Northern California. According to the California Health Department, “the individual is a resident of Solano County, CA, and is receiving medical care in Sacramento County, CA. The individual had no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected individual.” Earlier cases of person-to-person transmission in Illinois and California came “after close, prolonged interaction with a family member who returned from Wuhan, China, and had tested positive for COVID-19.” Public health officials trace the person’s contacts as they try to find out where and how the person may have been infected and whether others have been exposed. The patient is being treated at UC Davis Medical Center. Read more here.
Mount Sinai doctors become first in U.S. to analyze CT scans of coronavirus patients
A team of Mount Sinai doctors have become the first physicians in the U.S. to analyze CT scans of patients diagnosed with coronavirus and said that they were able to identify specific patterns in the lungs as markers of the disease as it developed. It’s believed that this new insight will lead to a quicker diagnosis in patients who are suspected as having COVID-19 symptoms. The team received the scans of 94 Chinese patients who had been admitted to four hospitals from Jan. 18 to Feb. 2. Most patients had traveled to Wuhan recently or had close contact with an infected patient. The results were published in Radiology. Read more here.
CDC warns men about facial hair dangers as coronavirus spreads
A graphic released by the CDC shows men’s facial hair styles and what could be dangerous during a coronavirus outbreak. The agency says a clean-shaven face is OK, but even stubble could cause trouble. Facial hair could conflict with respirators worn over the face as the U.S. braces for the spread of coronavirus. The hair could come in contact with the respirator’s exhalation valve, reducing its effectiveness, the graphic said. See the graphic and read more here.
More coronavirus resources from The Journal of Healthcare Contracting:
- Day-by-day Timeline of major events
- FAQ/Insights – Helpful and relevant links to help you keep track of the ongoing epidemic