In 1999, President Clinton ordered the formation of the Strategic National Stockpile — a series of warehouses in secret locations filled with medical supplies and personal protective equipment to be used in case of a natural disaster or health emergency. Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Stockpile has already distributed about 90% of its resources, according to federal officials. We asked the Department of Health and Human Services why the Stockpile didn’t have enough resources to meet the demand for PPE required by healthcare professionals fighting COVID-19 on the front lines. According to a HHS spokesperson, the Stockpile wasn’t designed for an event of this magnitude. However, thanks to billions in newly allocated funds from Congress and private contracts to replenish the Stockpile’s warehouses, some much-needed help is on the way.
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Why The $8 Billion Stockpile Didn’t Save Us From The Coronavirus Spread