Thread by @WomenLeisure

Thread

Ugly truth of PPE shortage: I learned a lot in the last week. The greed, corruption, jumping thru bureaucratic hoops. What started out as a desperate need to protect my husband and doc/nurse friends, I uncovered the ugly truth. It’s not lack of supplies. It’s there.-

Federal gov doesn’t want pay for it. They want the State, City and Hospitals to cover the cost. None of them want to pay for it either. Each of them are pointing at e/o for acquiring needed proper gear for HCW. It’s going in circles while HCW are getting infected and dying.-

Every single one of them are failing to protect their own HCW.

Doctors and nurses are pleading for help. They have made wills, living separately from their families in order to not infect them. They know they may die. They are afraid of infection and death bc lack of PPE. -

So why aren’t they getting them? What is the reason? What is the real problem? Is it a shortage issue? No. It was money.

They rather get donations instead. Remember Trump said there are “tremendous” donations coming from different industries and individuals.-

Why rely on donations when most Americans can’t even pay for rent or food due to forced work closure.

Donations won’t be enough. It will eventually run out. This will be around for months if not for years until the vaccine comes out. Yet, the hospitals r just rationing masks.-

After researching and talking with doctors around the country, I realized it will be matter of time before medical system collapsed. This pandemic is exposing all the weaknesses & deeper problems of our country. USA, once a great country has now turned into a 3rd world country.-

Trump recently rejected to pay for 85,000 ventilators from GE for 1billion dollars bc it was deemed too expensive. Saving industry has become the norm not the people. And we are letting them get away with it. We shouldn’t. We deserve better. There is no price tag on human lives.-

When I spoke with several Korean distributors, they couldn’t believe what I was saying. They said, it’s America! Doctors & nurses are wearing garbage bags and homemade masks? They were shocked. When I asked how many Korean HCW got infected & died, they said only few from Daegu.-

Just yesterday, Boston had over 100 doctors and nurses infected. That is just one city. This is happening all across the country. HCW are dying. When I told them, the Korean distributors didn’t understand. They kept saying, it’s America. You guys are the best. What happened?-

It will be matter of time before doctors walk out according to many doctors. They may collectively quit. Why should they risk their lives when no one is protecting them. It’s negligent and immoral. It’s not worth it for them to risk their lives and loved ones. -

They are not legally bound to work. Then what happens? Many people will die. Maybe this will force the gov to take action and get protective gears for HCW.

Some states are calling for retired docs & nurses to volunteer. Do they have PPEs for them? If not, they are asking them-

to risk their lives. Same w med students graduating early. It’s free labor. They are just kids. They are the future & we need to protect them.

We are on a dangerous path. Perhaps complete societal collapse and civil unrest.

Are we ready for it? Response I got from 1 hospital.

Want to add, if nobody like me can get medical suppliers in China, there is no reason why gov, state, city or hospitals can’t. They know more than I do. This isn’t my job. I did it out of fear & concern. Supplies are available. It’s immoral what they are doing to HCW. Devastated.