U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is urging the Trump Administration to address the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and emergency responders.
In his home state, Peters cited the travails of the Detroit Police Department, which has had to quarantine about 22 percent of its police force. He is calling on federal government officials to ensure that state and local governments can access all of the gloves, masks and other protective equipment they need to protect their health care, law enforcement, and first responders during the pandemic.
“At the core of this battle is our nation’s health care workforce, which is working tirelessly under dangerous conditions to aid thousands of Americans in their hour of need. In addition to our health care workers, I am also concerned about protections for our law enforcement personnel and first responders in this pandemic,” Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wrote in a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor and Attorney General William Barr. “These individuals are a critical component in the line of defense against the threat of Coronavirus as they rapidly respond to emergencies, help implement community guidelines, and aid any individual in need during the crisis. I urge you to work together to ensure that these workers have access to PPE as our country works to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
Less than 10 percent of American cities have an adequate supply of face masks for their healthcare workers and first responders, according to a recent survey.
Law enforcement departments across the country have had to solicit donations from local businesses to necessary PPE. But even without it, they have served their communities, at considerable risk to their own health. Two members of the Detroit Police Department have already died from COVID-19, while nearly 500 officers have been quarantined due to possible exposure.
Peters urged the Trump Administration officials to take whatever action is necessary to remedy this problem. He asked for answers to several questions, including how FEMA is using the authorities of the Defense Production Act to ensure that frontline workers have access to needed medical supplies such as PPE.