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You know why our frontline healthcare workers can’t get the supplies they need? Because we are limiting options in the global supply chain to US standards and creating bottlenecks during an emergency.
We need to recognize country equivalent standards so we can import supplies.
We need to recognize country equivalent standards so we can import supplies.
Ask your hospital, city, state to tell whoever is bottlenecking global options for needed medical supplies to accept country equivalent standards.
N95 masks are equivalent to FFP2 and KN95 masks. If other countries are doing this why can’t we?
N95 masks are equivalent to FFP2 and KN95 masks. If other countries are doing this why can’t we?
I am up 20 hours a day for months getting requests for supplies and while other countries are buying everything up, Americans are getting in their own way on narrow requirements.
You know how hard it is to find a factory that is FDA, NIOSH approved with English packaging?
You know how hard it is to find a factory that is FDA, NIOSH approved with English packaging?
Then there are the ones that tell me they don’t want masks made in China. Did you know China make most of the world’s masks?
Did you know countries in Europe have export restrictions now on their supplies?
Did you know the US makes NONE of this stuff in big enough supply?
Did you know countries in Europe have export restrictions now on their supplies?
Did you know the US makes NONE of this stuff in big enough supply?
We are in the middle of a pandemic and Americans are doing what we do best and getting in our own damn way. People are going to die because some dumbass is ok with distributors who have 8-12 week back orders.
Meanwhile, other countries are locking up factory production lines.
Meanwhile, other countries are locking up factory production lines.
I have Americans asking for SAMPLES to be sent from factories who don’t care because someone from Europe just bought out 6 months of production for their country.
You’re going to ask for SAMPLES during a pandemic like you have leverage? Seriously?
You’re going to ask for SAMPLES during a pandemic like you have leverage? Seriously?
Imagine a limited number of factories in the world now running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and still not able to keep up with demand from every country begging them for some quota in their production line.
You think they want to send your lack of self awareness a sample?
You think they want to send your lack of self awareness a sample?
Factory owners have all the leverage right now. They don’t care about your need for samples. They require 100% payment. They don’t need to give you volume discounts.
You either buy from them or don’t. They don’t care because plenty of buyers throwing money at them.
You either buy from them or don’t. They don’t care because plenty of buyers throwing money at them.
The entire global supply chain has been disrupted. Buyers have zero leverage. There is product out there being made but a lot of it is made for other countries.
If people understood that FFP2 and KN95 masks were the same as N95 masks there would be less of a shortage here.
If people understood that FFP2 and KN95 masks were the same as N95 masks there would be less of a shortage here.
If Americans weren’t so xenophobic they would also be ok with medical supplies with packaging in other languages. Factory owners have zero incentive to stop production line and switch to English packaging.
Get whoever is in charge to recognize country equivalent standards.
Get whoever is in charge to recognize country equivalent standards.
There are many factories overseas that are CE certified and produce FFP2 and KN95 masks but because they are not FDA or NIOSH approved people have no access to them. http://emag.medicalexpo.com/which-masks-actually-protect-against-coronavirus/
YES! Please share with anyone who needs to understand. The CDC is acknowledging the country equivalent of N95 masks.
Knowing this gives people more options for medical supply during shortages. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/crisis-alternate-strategies.html
Knowing this gives people more options for medical supply during shortages. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/crisis-alternate-strategies.html
“These devices are expected to be suitable alternatives to provide protection during the COVID-19 response when supplies are short.”
THIS. We severely limit our options when sticking to N95 NIOSH only masks at a time of emergency.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/crisis-alternate-strategies.html
THIS. We severely limit our options when sticking to N95 NIOSH only masks at a time of emergency.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/crisis-alternate-strategies.html
Calling this Project Safe Health.
Focused on connecting hospitals, clinics and orgs with factory direct medical supplies for their frontline healthcare workers.
We have secured production allocation to several factories. Share with who needs it. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPhKQXSgbxdrZJmk_8chFWWTGT8JbluSMeldcdX8mlq72ZVg/viewform
Focused on connecting hospitals, clinics and orgs with factory direct medical supplies for their frontline healthcare workers.
We have secured production allocation to several factories. Share with who needs it. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPhKQXSgbxdrZJmk_8chFWWTGT8JbluSMeldcdX8mlq72ZVg/viewform
This is a NIOSH certified N95 respirator. We have access to 6 million units ready to ship but apparently the Chinese language packaging brings out the xenophobia in some people. 
This is what 55 gallon barrels of hand sanitizer looks like.
Shout out to @typesfast and the team at @flexport. Awesome call with them and @joe__wilson__ yesterday.
We’re already integrating them into action on many of our upcoming cross border PPE shipments. Thanks @peterpham!
We’re already integrating them into action on many of our upcoming cross border PPE shipments. Thanks @peterpham!
These 2 masks are the most overrated hype of this whole pandemic so far.
It’s costing lives because those in a position to purchase EQUIVALENT masks at better pricing are insisting on paying 5X-10X the cost for one of these.
It’s costing lives because those in a position to purchase EQUIVALENT masks at better pricing are insisting on paying 5X-10X the cost for one of these.
Ask the people responsible for procuring PPE why they insist on only buying 3M 1860.
Ask if they know the difference between N95, KN95 and FFP2. Show them this 3M file basically saying it’s all the same.
Then ask them to get in action.
Ask if they know the difference between N95, KN95 and FFP2. Show them this 3M file basically saying it’s all the same.
Then ask them to get in action.
Every day, I wake up to some offer for a stockpile of 3M 1860. There was supposedly 1 million of these at an airport in Korea going for $5 a mask. Waiting for a buyer to flip to someone else for $5.50 before selling it to hospitals for $8.
I MEAN WTF PEOPLE.
I MEAN WTF PEOPLE.
Side by side comparison of various equivalent masks to the N95 from different countries.
No. These are not on the CDC list. Because they are used in other countries. Americans aren’t extra special when it comes to these masks. Although we act like it.
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1791500O/comparison-ffp2-kn95-n95-filtering-facepiece-respirator-classes-tb.pdf
No. These are not on the CDC list. Because they are used in other countries. Americans aren’t extra special when it comes to these masks. Although we act like it.
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1791500O/comparison-ffp2-kn95-n95-filtering-facepiece-respirator-classes-tb.pdf
I received info on a stockpile of 6 million FDA approved FFP2 / N95 masks today and the pricing is $2.50 ...a reminder to stop buying into the $10 mask from 3M is better bullshit.
...working on matching hospitals and local governments in the USA with these stockpiles we come across.
Not easy. Often times bought up by another country before we can even submit a purchase order on the US buyer behalf. Me dialing in all my cross border favors.
Not easy. Often times bought up by another country before we can even submit a purchase order on the US buyer behalf. Me dialing in all my cross border favors.
My partner in Shanghai got a sourcing request from country in Europe ...for body bags.
Body bags. Makes me
.
Body bags. Makes me
.
Good morning. Senior hours at Costco so I’m trying to keep up with my mom and her electric scooter without having my coffee yet.
But there is wine.
But there is wine.
It’s really like this with PPE factory owners around the world now.
Anyone have a contact at @Chase that is staying on top of #COVID19 and the need to help clear funds needed for vital PPE to begin production in factories?
We lost an entire day trying to transfer money they are holding. Impacting our production deadlines for hospitals.
We lost an entire day trying to transfer money they are holding. Impacting our production deadlines for hospitals.
Inspired by the social entrepreneurs and impact investors in action on retooling American factories for PPE supplies.
Definitely did not have hand sanitizer factory on my list of things I was going to get behind in 2020 but here we are.
Definitely did not have hand sanitizer factory on my list of things I was going to get behind in 2020 but here we are.
How surgical masks are made.
And where will Americans get these masks they have to wear everyday when there is not even enough supply available at the moment?
The supply chain is a total mess and people in CYA (cover your ass) roles of procurement still acting like people aren’t dying.
The supply chain is a total mess and people in CYA (cover your ass) roles of procurement still acting like people aren’t dying.
A reminder that if you are even lucky enough to get allocation at a factory, it’s a minimum 10-14 days for production and air freight.
I’ve been at this for 2 months. This week we got a rush of USA requests for PPE asap like it’s an Amazon Prime order.
I’ve been at this for 2 months. This week we got a rush of USA requests for PPE asap like it’s an Amazon Prime order.
Once someone with sign off power actually makes a decision, then let me tell you about the additional delay that is the PAYMENT process.
Factories will NOT make anything for you without 100% pre-payment now. I’ve been lucky to secure 50% deposit on many by dialing in favors.
Factories will NOT make anything for you without 100% pre-payment now. I’ve been lucky to secure 50% deposit on many by dialing in favors.
Once payment is made, we’ve lost a week. Remember, factories won’t even start without money in. I had a case where we finally got payment in and our lead time moved to mid-April.
American bureaucracy can’t compete with countries paying factories ASAP in full for their PPE.
American bureaucracy can’t compete with countries paying factories ASAP in full for their PPE.
The irony of people on their made in China phones telling me they don’t want made in China medical supplies.
Yes. I am subtweeting a children’s hospital in Southern California. Their anti-Chinese bias is not my responsibility. I just want to get supplies to kids.
Yes. I am subtweeting a children’s hospital in Southern California. Their anti-Chinese bias is not my responsibility. I just want to get supplies to kids.
The reality is, those $0.58 mask prices no longer exist. Increase in price of raw material, global demand and factories raising prices because they can have all contributed to this.
More like $2.00-$2.75 now for non-3M masks but definitely NOT $7.50. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/for-new-york-58-cent-medical-masks-now-priced-at-7-50-each
More like $2.00-$2.75 now for non-3M masks but definitely NOT $7.50. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/for-new-york-58-cent-medical-masks-now-priced-at-7-50-each
This is what one metric ton of hand sanitizer looks like. 
A reminder that I’m an American working 20 hours a day to get medical supplies to all Americans ...including all the racist relatives of people who have no racist bones in their body. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-03-28/why-disease-and-xenophobia-go-hand-in-hand
As always @casinclair is up to good and @JupeInc is needed in so many places right now. #buildmorebeds
cc: @joe__wilson__ @PipelineMed
cc: @joe__wilson__ @PipelineMed
Under NDA so I don’t disclose the location of a toilet paper factory. File under documents I didn’t expect to sign in 2020.
Keep reading about ventilator shortages in the US. Meanwhile we have identified several factories that produce CE certified ventilators for Europe.
One factory can produce thousands a week and ship out weekly.
Ask the FDA why they aren’t allowing CE certified during emergency.
One factory can produce thousands a week and ship out weekly.
Ask the FDA why they aren’t allowing CE certified during emergency.
What ventilator shortage? This factory we know is CE certified and can produce 5,000 a week.
We partnered with Pipeline Medical to distribute them at cost+ and have chartered planes ready to go. It’s been frustrating AF.
ASK THE @US_FDA WHY.
We partnered with Pipeline Medical to distribute them at cost+ and have chartered planes ready to go. It’s been frustrating AF.
ASK THE @US_FDA WHY.
And reminder that they sent BROKEN ventilators to CA that had to be fixed. But we can’t authorize the import of new ones that are European standard and a fraction of the cost because we can get them factory direct.
What ventilator shortage?
https://twitter.com/gavinnewsom/status/1244029584808402945?s=21 https://twitter.com/gavinnewsom/status/1244029584808402945
What ventilator shortage?
https://twitter.com/gavinnewsom/status/1244029584808402945?s=21 https://twitter.com/gavinnewsom/status/1244029584808402945
On a call trying to convince an overseas supplier of 300 FDA and CE approved ventilators to hold them for a few more hours before they sell them to another country.
Other countries sending their embassies to buy in cash and America still thinks we can ask for Net 30 terms.
Other countries sending their embassies to buy in cash and America still thinks we can ask for Net 30 terms.
Sad when I get requests for large volumes of PPE supplies in the USA that are needed ASAP.
I have to tell them there are no large supplies of any inventory here right now. It needs to come off production lines and needs a minimum of 10-14 days.
I have to tell them there are no large supplies of any inventory here right now. It needs to come off production lines and needs a minimum of 10-14 days.
Dialing in all my guanxi. This is the factory that’s CE certified and holding 1,000 new ventilators for us with English UI ready to ship.
But first we need to ensure it can get to where it’s needed without export and import issues. Hope we don’t lose this allocation.
But first we need to ensure it can get to where it’s needed without export and import issues. Hope we don’t lose this allocation.
Air freight costs are so insane now it’s starting to make PPE supplies even more expensive. Traditionally all this stuff goes by boat to minimize costs.
In talks with a friend’s private jet company to charter cargo flights between China and US to save on costs. Crazy times.
In talks with a friend’s private jet company to charter cargo flights between China and US to save on costs. Crazy times.
Damn. Those 1,000 ventilators we were asking factory to hold have been sold overnight.
I’m not trying to be the one saying I told you so at a time like this. But damn. I told you so.
Only so far your personal relationships can go when another country shows up with cash.
I’m not trying to be the one saying I told you so at a time like this. But damn. I told you so.
Only so far your personal relationships can go when another country shows up with cash.
One of our FDA and CE approved partner factories that produce KN95 and FFP2 masks. See that roll of white material?
That’s meltblown polypropylene. It’s the base filtration material of N95, KN95 and FFP2.
So when you tell me you prefer N95 over KN95 I have to roll my eyes.
That’s meltblown polypropylene. It’s the base filtration material of N95, KN95 and FFP2.
So when you tell me you prefer N95 over KN95 I have to roll my eyes.
If given a choice between an FDA approved KN95 mask that everyone in Asia has been using for a decade or a homemade DIY project from Instagram or bandana or NO MASK...
Which would you choose?
Which would you choose?
I want one. Not going to lie though, it sounds like someone scratching a chalkboard. Need ear plugs. 
@peterpham @joe__wilson__
@peterpham @joe__wilson__
Great call with @robinchan and @peterpham!
Me and my virtual self showing up for @operationmasks duty.
Me and my virtual self showing up for @operationmasks duty.
A friend asked me to help find 3,000 FDA approved infrared thermometers the other day.
Happy that these are on their way to daycare centers in America.
Happy that these are on their way to daycare centers in America.
“The FDA is not blocking KN95 mask importations,” said Anand Shah, the agency’s deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs in an interview. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kenbensinger/the-fda-now-says-it-will-allow-imports-of-kn95-masks-an
Vetting out a toilet paper factory was definitely not on my list for 2020 but here we are...
The cute DIY bandana I see you wearing is going to kill you or someone you transfer the virus to.
Chinese friend imported this Made In USA N95 mask from Peru a few months ago when they needed PPE in China.
Now the batch is in China making its way back to USA. This mask has traveled around the world.
Now the batch is in China making its way back to USA. This mask has traveled around the world.
Meltblown polypropylene.
This is one reason why all the masks are so expensive now. The prices of the material behind the N95 filter has skyrocketed.
This is one reason why all the masks are so expensive now. The prices of the material behind the N95 filter has skyrocketed.
Sending love this Sunday to a good friend’s mom who passed away from this. 
Special place in hell for the person charging $4.75 for a KN95 mask.
The wholesale cost is $1.30-$1.50 from supplier in China and even when adding tax, shipping, any reseller margin and convenience of being in USA already, you shouldn’t be paying more than $2.75 for them.
The wholesale cost is $1.30-$1.50 from supplier in China and even when adding tax, shipping, any reseller margin and convenience of being in USA already, you shouldn’t be paying more than $2.75 for them.
Different masks and their Europe and China equivalents. So as supplies come in from other countries if you see an EN 14683 it’s the same as ASTM F2100.
Lost access to one of the few level 3 surgical mask factories that are FDA approved and on Chinese government list for exports approval.
Lost it to Chinese government who nationalized the factory and is only allowing it to produce for Spain now.
Can’t make this stuff up.
Lost it to Chinese government who nationalized the factory and is only allowing it to produce for Spain now.
Can’t make this stuff up.
Forget having a mask factory. I want ownership in a meltblown polypropylene factory that cranks out rolls and rolls of filter material for N95 masks.
That way when a mask factory says their high price is due to raw materials, I can send my own rolls of meltblown over like this.
That way when a mask factory says their high price is due to raw materials, I can send my own rolls of meltblown over like this.
Small wins are big wins when you can facilitate the delivery of ASTM F1761 standard coveralls for a friend. An ICU unit of a NY hospital was running out. Found a distributor in another friend’s network who located and shipped some.
Love that American distilleries are retooling as hand sanitizer factories and saving jobs.
Been a hassle trying to procure this overseas. More supply will hopefully drive the price down. We can also just use soap and water.
Been a hassle trying to procure this overseas. More supply will hopefully drive the price down. We can also just use soap and water.
China changed its export regulations TWICE in the same week while millions of PPE we are moving was en route or in queue for customs clearance.
While it’s good they are tightening up quality control, it’s created a delay for PPE that is really needed.
While it’s good they are tightening up quality control, it’s created a delay for PPE that is really needed.
Already been diversifying supply chain options outside of China but no one can produce the quantity they can. Other countries have export restrictions in place.
Now would be a good time to step up and expedite retooling and certifications of made in USA everything.
Now would be a good time to step up and expedite retooling and certifications of made in USA everything.
