Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is sharing details about the 500,000 COVID-19 test kits previously purchased from South Korea.
Hogan spoke with The Washington Post Live on Thursday where he was asked whether or not he had concerns about the U.S. federal government possibly seizing the testing kits he had purchased.
He explained the process that was required to make the big purchase and the precautions his state took to ensure the shipment was delivered safely.
“It was a little bit of a concern about trying to get these things and it was a very complicated process. You know, we spent about 22 days and nights dealing with this whole transaction with Korea. I’ve dealt with the Korean Embassy and folks at the state department in Korea, eight different state agencies, and our scientists on both sides trying to figure out these tests and that at the last moment, I think 24 hours before, we got sign off from the FDA, and Border and Customs to try to make sure we landed this plane safely.”
The Maryland governor cited reports about 3 million masks purchased by Massachusetts that were confiscated by the federal government. Because of that, he confirmed he took precautions with the testing kits.
“It was like Fort Knox to us.”
See Hogan’s remarks below:
Maryland @GovLarryHogan on whether he was concerned that the federal government would seize the tests the state procured from South Korea. He says the tests are being guarded by the National Guard at an undisclosed location. https://t.co/uGcUi6U5rL pic.twitter.com/15BhHmLzql
— Washington Post Live (@postlive) April 30, 2020
Hogan revealed the testing kits the state purchased are were guarded at an undisclosed location.
“That was so important to us that we wanted to make sure that plane took off from Korea safely, landed here in America safely and that we guarded that cargo from whoever might interfere with us getting that to our folks that needed it,” Hogan said.
The COVID-19 tests, valued at more than $9 million, were strategically transported to avoid the possibility of confiscation.
The freight would have been transported through Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia, but was routed to Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport instead.
The Maryland National Guard and Maryland State Police were at the scene when the shipment arrived. From there, the tests were taken to the undisclosed location, where Hogan says they are still being guarded.
For several weeks, Hogan has expressed concerns about the testing capacity in his state. As of Friday morning, Maryland currently has 21,472 positive coronavirus cases.
