While some of you are rooting around looking for t
Post# of 123789
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U.S. sent millions of face masks to China early this year, ignoring pandemic warning signs
Source: Washington Post
U.S. manufacturers shipped millions of dollars of face masks and other protective medical equipment to China in January and February with encouragement from the federal government, a Washington Post review of economic data and internal government documents has found. The move underscores the Trump administration's failure to recognize and prepare for the growing pandemic threat.
In those two months, the value of protective masks and related items exported from the United States to China grew more than 1,000 percent compared with the same time last year -- from $1.4 million to about $17.6 million, according to a Post analysis of customs categories which, according to research by Public Citizen, contain key PPE. Similarly, shipments of ventilators and protective garments jumped by triple digits.
"Instead of taking steps to prepare, they ignored the advice of one expert after another," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.). "People right now, as we speak, are dying because there have been inadequate supplies of PPE."
While the percentage increase of exports to China was steep, they represent a small fraction of the overall U.S. need. Throughout the country, the shortage has forced hospitals, nursing homes and first responders to ration masks and other protective gear as they treat infected and high-risk patients, creating a secondary health crisis among first line providers.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/us-sent...hibrLzcYAa
So much for the claim that the problem was individuals hoarding. As late as March 3, the US announced a new service in China, the "the China and Hong Kong COVID Procurement Service," helping them purchase medical supplies from American manufacturers.
So they set up a special "procurement service" for the Chinese, while telling U.S. governors to eat shit.