KEY POINTS

  • Wisconsin lawmakers requested for emergency medical supplies
  • Reported state's supplies were "critically low"
  • Request was signed by 2 senators and  5 representatives.

Seven Wisconsin lawmakers reported that medical equipment were running "critically low" in the state amid the COVID-19 outbreak and asked the federal government for help.

The seven members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation reported that their medical supplies were running low and sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and requested 55,000 respirators, more than 130,000 surgical masks, about 25,000 face shields, more than 20,000 surgical gowns, about 100 coveralls and 72,000 gloves from the national stockpile, the Washington Times reported.

The lawmakers then asked when they could expect the supplies, whether the national stockpile would be replenished, if production was increased to make sure that there is enough supply and what was being done in response to other critical supply shortages.

The request was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson along with U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan, Ron Kind, Gwen Moore, Bryan Steil and Mike Gallagher.

Surgical masks are in short supply as people seek protection from the virus
Surgical masks are in short supply as people seek protection from the virus AFP / Loic VENANCE
Coronavirus