CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice announced the state has bought 100,000 N95 surgical masks from a private company.
He said the cost was $575,000, but the reward could be making sure West Virginia health workers and first responders are properly equipped to fight coronavirus.
Justice says 30,000 masks will go to emergency responders and 70,000 will go to DHHR to be distributed.
And, he said, the state purchased “highly-protected suits” for $600,000. “That gives us an extra layer of protection,” he said.
States all over the country have been under pressure to have enough personal protective equipment for healthcare providers. The concern is that the front line of healthcare workers could get sick through exposure, contributing to overwhelming the system.
The supply has been so troubling that the Centers for Disease Control is offering advice on how medical staff can survive during a contagious disease outbreak without proper facemasks.
West Virginia’s Center for Threat Preparedness sent a letter earlier this week to federal officials, saying protective equipment provided so far for healthcare workers is woefully inadequate.
The letter says West Virginia requested 160,000 N-95 masks, and the state was notified it would receive almost 18,000. When a shipment arrived this week, it included only 2,200.
Similarly, West Virginia anticipated more than 42,000 face/surgical masks “and received zero.”
State leaders at today’s press conference said the newly-placed order will help assure healthcare workers are protected.
“The purchases we made today with the suits and the masks are going to save healthcare workers’ lives,” said Clay Marsh, executive dean for health sciences at West Virginia University.
During a separate press call earlier Thursday, Senator Joe Manchin also emphasized the importance of protective equipment for health workers and first responders.
“If we can’t protect them oh dear lord help us if they get sick on us,” said Manchin, D-W.Va. “If your medical providers get sick and can’t be at work then you just double any problems you have.”
Manchin said he has been pushing Vice President Mike Pence and more federal officials for an influx of equipment.
And he participated in separate calls Thursday evening with the West Virginia Nursing Association and the West Virginia Medical Association.
“I’m raising cain about not having respirators and ventilators. We don’t have nearly enough,” he said. “There’s no other state more at risk than we are.”