California Provides Update on Distribution of Masks to Frontline Workers

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SACRAMENTO – Having successfully created a stable, reliable pipeline of life-saving personal protective equipment coming into our state, California today announced millions of additional surgical masks are now being sent to aid front line workers helping to reopen the state’s economy.

In the last 14 days alone, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has distributed 40.7 million surgical masks and also now has more than 90.4 million surgical masks staged and ready to be distributed. These distributions of masks are part of an ongoing push by the state to protect a broad swath of Californians working on the front lines of the response to COVID-19.

In addition to masks being sent to healthcare facilities and local government, in the past 14 days the state has distributed surgical masks to aid workers across the following sectors of the economy:

  • Agriculture: 167,000
  • Business and Office Workers: 20,000
  • California State Government Agencies: 284,000
  • Construction and Skilled Trade Workers: 167,000
  • Educators and School Support Staff : 1.2 million
  • Hotel and lodging workers: 188,000
  • Logistics and warehouse workers: 184,000
  • Non-Emergency medical workers: 1.29 million
  • Nursing and Senior Care workers: 7.7 million
  • Public Safety and Law Enforcement Workers: 294,000
  • Public Works and Utility workers: 56,000
  • Transit and Transportation workers: 32,000
  • Tribal Governments: 912,000

As well, through the national Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), California has sent surgical masks and other supplies to other Western States to support the fight against COVID-19.  This has included 10 million surgical masks and 500,000 face shields to the state of Arizona and 3 million surgical masks to the State of Alaska to aid those state’s respective fights to control the spread of COVID-19.

During times of National Disasters, States routinely utilize EMAC to support each outer by sharing resources or providing commodities.  As outlined in the EMAC Agreement, the State of California will be reimbursed for 100% of the costs of these commodities, by the receiving State.  

“From the beginning of this pandemic we have set a path to build a sustainable, reliable logistics pipeline that could move us from a defensive position to an offensive one. We now have enough protective equipment to support the reopening of California while also being able to assist our neighboring States who may be in need,” said Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci.

Since the start of the pandemic the State of California has distributed more than 76 million surgical masks and 46 million N95 masks.

Learn more about the efforts underway at Cal OES to bring a reliable supply of PPE into the state.

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2 Comments

  1. john christensen

    What is the latest information regarding the purchase of covid masks from BYD corporation in China?
    Kind of strange that BYD masks can be purchased in my home town of Lancaster, yet there is no word I can find regarding what happening with the state contract.

    Reply
  2. Ray

    Who does a school district contact to obtain COVID supplies? Name, web site, phone number, etc.

    Thanks
    Ray

    Reply

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