I'd go one step further and actually blame THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS... probably more so than the feds. There are entire departments dedicated to infection control. It is their primary job to make sure the hospital is kept safe and clean. They are to anticipate the needs of staff. Given that this thread started in the third week of January, one has to wonder why the people in those departments weren't aware... Or didn't heed the warnings coming from other nations.
When I saw what was coming - even before starting this thread - I ordered a crap-ton of masks, goggles, gloves, O2 cylinders, O2 generator, every possible fish antibiotic (to ward off secondary infections) and 6 months of food for a family of four. I had most of that ordered by the first week of Feb.
The point is stock was plentiful 4-6 weeks ago. At that point, anyone with even a medium level of interest (not distracted by the impeachment charade) could have and should have seen this coming like a freight train. Unfortunately, until the hearings were over, no MSM was covering it. And any that mentioned it, said our risk was nil.
It was a perfect storm of disinterest, apathy, media TDS, and government wanting to avoid panic. But again, those infection control departments at EVERY hospital should have seen right through all of that. It's what they're getting paid to do. They should be drawn and quartered.
I'd go one step further yet and actually blame THE HOARDERS. Probably less so than the feds or hospitals but its worth a mention.
There are nurses and doctors that need personal protective equipment but thanks to hoarders (and poor policy federal and local) the people who ACTUALLY need them don't have them. Is it the stores fault there is no crap paper on the shelf? No its the people who are buying up all the supply that don't need it.
Is this crap-ton of masks, goggles, gloves being put to use currently?
Is you wife taking them to the ER and putting them to use?
If not when are you going to donate this crap-ton of masks, goggles, gloves?
I agree there are many high level people that chose profits over all else and deserve to be drawn and quartered but at what point do we come together and try to help our current situation?
Maybe once we drawn and quartered all the people who got us in this mess we do the same to all the people who hoarded supply they didn't need.(I know that wont be a popular statement on this site)
Don't take this as a attack against you because it isn't. I'm just trying to make the point the the government dropped the ball and we the people kicked it down the road. If you feel you need 5,000 N95 mask and 15 years of toilet paper you should of already had this stuff stashed before there were supply shortages.
I found out last night that my wife's hospital is following other hospitals and not issuing N95 to staff unless they are working in proximity to a infected person. Makes me see red when she has to work on the front lines of this crises and not even be able to receive the proper PPE to keep her safe, while others cower in their homes away from any danger surrounded by PPE they WILL NEVER USE!
While the CDC is encouraging healthcare workers to wear less protective surgical masks as they fight COVID-19, California regulators disagree. The contradictory guidelines have confused and scared San Diego’s doctors and nurses.
www.kpbs.org
erkme I hope you and your wife can stay safe and healthy having to work during this mess.