As coronavirus deaths rise, so does the need for equipment.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested the Department of Defense (DOD) send 100,000 body bags to states that order them for possible civilian use, according to reports.
States have been using refrigerated trucks to hold bodies.
A DOD spokesperson released a statement on the provision, confirming plans to provide the body bags:
“DOD and the Defense Logistics Agency have a longstanding arrangement with FEMA to procure key commodities from DLA’s industrial partners during crisis response operations. DLA is currently responding to FEMA’s prudent planning efforts for 100,000 pouches to address mortuary contingencies on behalf of state health agencies.”
FEMA was also responsible for coordinating a relief shipment recently received from China of medical supplies, including masks, gowns, and ventilators.
Planeload of medical supplies from China lands in the United States.
— ABC News (@ABC) April 2, 2020
The relief shipment, coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, includes masks, gowns and ventilators. https://t.co/75aGqXI6oq
Experts are projecting it is only going to get worse before it gets better.
Additionally, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the next few weeks are going to be difficult, as IJR reported.
The estimated total number of deaths the United States could see is between 100,000 to 240,000.
Trump changed his tone surrounding the coronavirus outbreak shortly after he hoped the country would open back up for Easter, as IJR previously reported.
He was asked if that was a misstep, to which he replied, “That was just an aspiration.”
Trump also announced he would be extending social distancing guidelines to April 30.
New York has taken the hardest hit from the coronavirus as their death toll reached over 1,300, as of Thursday morning.
State officials are continuing to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus by enforcing social distancing guidelines.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced that the city will fine residents up to $500 if they violate the guidelines.
The USNS Comfort hospital ship also arrived in New York City early Monday to provide 1,000 additional hospital beds to free up more in the city for infected Americans.