Demand for N95 face masks, PPE surges

The demand for N95 respirator masks quadrupled in January and was almost six times higher in February, according to purchasing data from Premier Inc., a health care improvement company based in Charlotte, N.C. About 80% of personal protective equipment (PPE) is manufactured in China and other Asian nations, which have been hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak and reduced exports of these items. Data collected by Premier from distributors and a recent survey indicate U.S. hospitals and health systems have only received 44% of the N95 face masks they have on order. More than half of purchasers have initiated PPE conservation protocols. (Healthcare Purchasing News story, 3/3/20)