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Illegal Profiting off Protective Masks?

April 1st, 2020 by Mike Vasilinda

The Governor says the number one logistical challenge facing the state is getting enough N-95 protective masks.

Millions have been ordered with delivery set, only to find the masks went elsewhere.

The Governor banned elective surgeries to free hospital beds and protective equipment, but on Tuesday, the state’s emergency management director tweeted to the mask making company 3M, asking them to avoid middlemen distributors and ship masks directly to hospitals, first responders or the state.

“There’ll be shipments of masks coming in and you go to get them (I’m not going to get them), but I mean people, they’re not there. There’s a lot of stuff going on in the market right now. I can’t tell you what exactly, but its not a normal situation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

Getting the masks are a continuing logistical challenge.

Some have likened it to a Ponzi scheme, with brokers and distributors selling masks to the highest bidder.

DeSantis was hesitant to call it criminal.

“Look, I don’t want to say that it is because I don’t have first hand knowledge, but I can tell you that it’s shady as hell, that’s for sure,” said DeSantis.

The Governor believes if the staff of a Broward nursing home had been wearing the masks, deaths could have been prevented.

“Obviously hurts the health care workers for sure. Some of the staff and workers were infected, and they were sick and they shouldn’t have been allowed to go in there. Having a mask on I think would be something that potentially ward off infections for our most vulnerable,” said DeSantis.

Mask maker 3M says it’s doubled its manufacturing capacity.

It’s now producing 100 million masks a month, meaning there shouldn’t be a shortage.

The inability to get certainty in the shipment of masks is pitting Governors against Governors trying to protect their states.

On Tuesday, the President said during his briefing that Governors should come to him for logistical and supply support.

Governor DeSantis talked to President Trump Wednesday morning, but we don’t know if the issue was discussed.

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