Michigan delegation urges D.C. action as supply needs hit home
The entirety of the state’s congressional delegation is urging the White House to provide emergency supplies to fight the spread of COVID-19, as Kalamazoo’s health care industry turns to local residents to sew makeshift masks.
The Michigan Advance reported Thursday that it obtained a copy of the bi-partisan letter sent by both U.S. senators and all 14 U.S. representatives requesting Vice President Mike Pence, who heads the federal COVID-19 task force, approve an outstanding request for equipment such as protective gear for workers in health care and first responders, among others.
WMUK reports that Bronson and Borgess hospitals are asking for industrial-grade mask donations and WWMT reports on county officials’ issuance of guidelines for sewing homemade masks that could make the industrial masks more effective.
Masks may soon be a lower priority need for hospitals nationwide, however. NPR reports that some hospitals are too fewer Intensive Care Unit beds than they will likely need if infection rates continue to rise.
##
