early last year i heard an interview with a man whose company makes masks here in the us
he was asked if they were going to ramp up or expand due to the mask shortages
he replied no. because during the last outbreak (swine flu , i think?) when there were mask shortages the company expanded it's buildings and machinery to keep up
and as soon as the shortage was over all the hospitals etc went back to buying the cheap chinese masks and he about went broke paying off the expansion