There needs to be an OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE and an INSPECTOR GENERAL exclusively responsible for the stockpile.
Additionally, the FUNDING NEED of the National Strategic Stockpile must be known and included in the annual budget to increase the stockpile AND maintain the stock that expires over time.
Rep. Mullin is grossly inappropriate in his willingness to discredit a very important scientist based on his inability to understand the dire wish of Dr. Bright to be heard over and above his own personal wellness. The issue regarding his medical issues should be viewed as a heroic status to come forward in the face of his wellness otherwise. Rep. Mullin is grossly inappropriate.
Visit Florida estimates 111.8 million domestic visitors (click here) traveled to Florida in 2018, plus an estimated 10.8 million overseas visitors and 3.5 million Canadians. Officials say travel at 18 Florida airports increased by 7.6 percent last year over the previous year, with a record 93.9 million airline passengers.
There are far better alternatives for travelers such as the Virgin Islands. That's right, there were 69 confirmed cases with 60 recovered and 6 deaths. These statistics are current as of 20 mins ago.
Florida's governor has and continues to have extremely poor judgment to protect the Americans within his state, those that visit, including those from other countries. Florida should not be opening it's economic opportunities because it could and most likely will result in tragedy.
May 14, 2020
By Marc Freeman
At least 25,077 people in South Florida (click here) have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the state reported Thursday. That’s 435 more than the day before.
The Department of Health data also shows that 1,065 people in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties have died from COVID-19, up 26 from Wednesday....
The national discussion of this virus frequently includes the fact the virus found entry into the USA from China to the west coast and then from Europe into the tristate area of the east coast. Miami-Dade has a very different origin of the virus, namely, travel from Brazil. That exposure is just as important as any other. I have not noted any address of this fact by the governor while he seeks to open the Miami-Dade county area.
Dr. Rick Bright stated the N95 masks in use today in the USA from foreign suppliers are inadequate and don't measure up to American Standards. I am bringing this subject up because the statement by Dr. Bright is alarming, but, Prestige Ameritech (click here) have a problem they have to address: Mr. Bowen in testimony to Congress stated he has four Chinese mask manufacturing machines to begin production. That is great, HOWEVER, Mr. Bowen needs to reassure the American people and Congress that these Chinese machines are capable of producing high-quality N95 mask that meets American Standards of Safety.
The idea Congress has looked the other way when it comes to purchasing N95 masks into the USA that are substandard and open health care workers to dangerous disease. That is astounding. Congress is not trustworthy.
There was a time in the USA when the people demanded nothing short of perfection in the production of such products. I think what has occurred here is a shift to investing in cheaper substandard products from China because the stock market benefits from it. It is long past due that the USA return vital manufacturing to the country and jobs to the American people PERMANENTLY.
Prestige Ameritech should be given a PERMANENT contract with the USA government to produce 4 million masks a month beginning as soon as possible. If we rely only on Prestige Ameritech the USA government would need 100s of years to produce 40 billion masks. Therefore, while Prestige Ameritech should receive a forever contract, there needs to be other manufacturing of masks and PPE and supplies for testing and vaccine administration established to bring on more production per month. Those new manufacturers should receive a forever contract as well. These additional manufacturing facilities have guaranteed profits from forever contracts to the National Strategic Stockpile.
There has to be BUILT IN funding in the national budget for these important aspects of American life.
There needs to be a public review of the National Strategic Stockpile annually. It is not sexy, but, the reassurance of emergency measures in place would be good reading in a Sunday newspaper.
The lack of these vital supplies is gross negligence. No American ever expected this negligence and absolutely did not even thinkable was the idea the purchases were of substandard equipment and supplies. I think the FDA needs to review the current supplies in use now and demand a recall on any substandard equipment and supplies. It looks as though the USA needs to hire more professionals to perform this review.
November 5, 2005
By Robert Roos
Nov 1, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – President George W. Bush (click here) today proposed $7.1 billion in spending to prepare for an influenza pandemic, including $5 billion for vaccines and drugs, as his administration released an outline of its preparedness strategy.
"At this moment, there is no pandemic influenza in the United States or the world," Bush said in a speech in Bethesda, Md., today. "But if history is our guide, there is reason to be concerned."
He explained the threat posed by the H5N1 avian flu virus, saying it is "still primarily an animal disease" but could spread around the world if it gained the ability to pass efficiently from person to person. "Our country has been given fair warning of this danger to our homeland—and time to prepare," he said.
Bush said his strategy has three main elements: detecting outbreaks anywhere in the world; stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs while improving the ability to make new vaccines for a pandemic virus; and improving general readiness at the federal, state, and local levels....
