ThanQ
Baker
GE's medical ventilator division reported they have ramped up production. Other companies in US and Europe are also maximizing production of medical ventilators. Can only produce so many a day/week. GE stated they have been waiting on states and hospitals to place orders to know what to produce. So no Defense Production Act is needed. Also as the President and numerous sources have stated, there are thousands of ventilators in storage.
The biggest probelem is Decenmber, January and February state departments of health and hospital administrators did nothing to prepare.
Congress had reduced CDC appropraitions. Yet they blame President Trump because people due not use common sense during flu season.
live next to a major railroad line, been very quiet past few days.
Less than 40% the usual rail traffic… miss the noise, harder to sleep.
Herr Reichs Marshall Governor should ask why the Co Dept of Health and hospitals did not plan and order additional materials/equipment in December, January and February.
(researched several states and most did nothing more than announce and post flu season material and the CDC resources for coronavirus, yet to find a state that publicly documented planning for a potential emergency when Wuhan was the news.)
Another map comparison, Qmap and CDC map
National Guard Ramping Up COVID-19 Response
(DoD March 19 2020)
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2118175/national-guard-ramping-up-covid-19-response/
About 2,050 National Guard soldiers and airmen in 27 states have been activated to support COVID-19 response efforts, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said.
Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel said today that by this weekend that number most likely would double, and it is even possible that tens of thousands of guardsmen could be activated as the situation unfolds, depending on the needs of communities.
There are about 450,000 Guard troops in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories, he noted, with logistical and other capabilities that include airlift, ground transportation, command and control, engineering, kitchens, tents and medical personnel.
Lengyel provided a snapshot of what the Guard is already doing:
The New York National Guard is helping local officials distribute food, much of it in the hard-hit area of New Rochelle.
A Tennessee Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft delivered 500,000 swabs to be added to COVID-19 test kits in Memphis yesterday.
More than 500 soldiers are assisting with collecting samples from drive-through testing in Broward County, Florida.
In Maryland, the National Guard is supporting medical assessments and testing site operations.
The Wisconsin National Guard is supporting transportation missions for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
In Louisiana, the Guard liaison officers are assisting the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security in emergency preparedness.
Across the U.S., civil support teams are supporting the local departments of health with drive-through testing stations.
"We remain flexible and committed for whatever mission we may be called to do," Lengyel said. He noted that the governors of each state have the flexibility to use the Guard in ways they deem most fit and productive.
So far, six Guardsmen in the U.S. currently have tested positive for COVID-19, he said. Force health protection measures are in place in an effort to prevent more.
Also on the DoD news page, transcript of Gen Lengyel 's briefing stating it is not likely the National Guard will be federalized and can best assist as needed at the state level.
Reminder of what the media does not tell the public (peaked late January/early February)
9500-10000 influenza per week
380-420 influenza deaths per week
(including 5-8 pediatric deaths per week)