Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Peter Gaynor canât give an estimate on how many face masks the federal government is sending to states to help medical workers on the front lines of the Coronavirus Outbreak.
During an interview on CNNâs âState of the Unionâ on Sunday, host Jake Tapper asked Gaynor if he could say how masks âthe government has been able to acquire and how many have gone hospitals.â
âIt is a dynamic and fluid operation,â Gaynor said, adding, âWeâve been shipping continuously from federal warehouses and connecting those governors that need supplies to those who have it the commercial sector.â
When pressed on whether Gaynor had a ârough number,â Gaynor said, âI canât give a rough number. I can tell you that itâs happening every day.â
That answer didnât satisfy Tapper, who countered, âYou understand though, of course, that the inability of the federal government to give a number in terms of masks alarms people. It makes people concerned there arenât masks going out the door.â
âIâm not saying that thatâs the case, but without a number, it doesnât fill people with confidence,â he added.
Watch the exchange below:
In a separate interview on ABC Newsâ âThis Weekâ on Sunday, Gaynor was asked how many masks have been shipped and when states could expect them to be delivered.
âThey have been distributed,â Gaynor said, adding, âTheyâre shipping today, theyâll ship tomorrow.â
Gaynor was unable to answer directly whether the masks would make it to health care workers before the healthcare system is overwhelmed by coronavirus cases.
The shortage of face masks has become an urgent issue as healthcare workers in some states have been told to wear bandanas as a âlast resortâ if they run out of face masks.
