U.S. Turned Down Offer To Manufacture Millions Of N95 Masks As Coronavirus Spread

A company that offered to make life-saving protective masks as the coronavirus began its spread across the U.S. in January was snubbed by government officials.

Michael Bowen, the owner of medical supply company Prestige Ameritech, told the Department of Health and Human Services that he could begin producing 1.7 million N95 masks a week, only to be denied, The Washington Post first reported .

We still have four like-new N95 manufacturing lines, Bowen emailed a top HHS official on Jan. 22, the day the first coronavirus case was detected in the country. Reactivating these machines would be very difficult and very expensive but could be achieved in a dire situation.

Laura Wolf, director of the agencys Division of Critical Infrastructure Protection, responded that the government wasnt anywhere near answering those questions for you yet in response to Bowens offer.

We are the last major domestic mask company, Bowen emailed the next day. My phones are ringing now, so I dont need government business. Im just letting you know that I can help you preserve our infrastructure if things ever get really bad. Im a patriot first, businessman second.

The new revelation is part of an 89-page whistleblower complaint from former federal vaccine chief Rick Bright, who alleges he was removed from his position as retaliation for his early warnings about the pandemic and his refusal to make potentially harmful drugs to combat the virus.

The newly revealed emails also show that Bright attempted to warn agency leaders about mask shortages, citing Bowens offer. But the offer fell on deaf ears, Bright told Bowen in an email.

U.S. mask supply is at imminent risk, Bowen replied. Rick, I think were in deep shit.

Read the full story at The Washington Post.

A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus

Stay up to date with our live blog as we cover the COVID-19 pandemic
What happens if we end social distancing too soon?
What you need to know about face masks right now
Will there be a second stimulus check ?
Lost your job due to coronavirus? Heres what you need to know .
Why it takes so long to make a coronavirus vaccine
Parenting during the coronavirus crisis?
The HuffPost guide to working from home
What coronavirus questions are on your mind right now? We want to help you find answers.
Everyone deserves accurate information about COVID-19. Support journalism without a paywall and keep it free for everyone by becoming a HuffPost member today .

Related