WASHINGTON — The whole-of-America response to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic continued today, with more than 7,000 COVID-19 test kits being shipped from South Korea to the United States. Hospital corpsmen on board USNS Mercy are treating non-COVID-19 patients, and National Guardsmen continue supporting response efforts in Connecticut, helping distribute masks, gloves and face shields to local residential care homes, nursing homes and long-term care facilities in North Haven.
Meanwhile, postal service workers continue processing, transporting and delivering mail and packages for the American public as part of the whole-of-America COVID-19 response.
Under the White House Coronavirus Task Force's direction, FEMA, HHS and our federal partners are working with state, local, tribal and territorial governments to execute a whole-of-America response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the public. In addition, all 50 states, four territories and Washington, D.C., have been approved for major disaster declarations to assist with additional needs identified.
FEMA continues to expedite movement of commercially pre-sourced and commercially procured critical supplies from the global market to medical distributors in various locations across the U.S. through Project Airbridge..
As of April 13, 45 flights have been completed either as part of Project Airbridge or other federal government-procured supplies.
- Five flights landed on April 13 at distribution hubs in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
- Today, April 14, three flights are currently scheduled to land: two in Chicago and one in Rockford, Illinois.
To date, FEMA has obligated $5.2 billion in support of COVID-19 efforts.
FEMA Awards Contract for COVID-19 Test Kits to South Korean Manufacturer
SEOUL, South Korea (April 14, 2020) — South Korean-manufactured test kits are loaded onto planes bound for the United States. FEMA has awarded a contract with a South Korean manufacturer to provide approximately 7,500 COVID-19 test kits. Each kit has the ability to test 100 people. The test kits will be distributed to states that need to augment their existing testing capability. Urgent needs will be given to hardest hit areas.
Courtesy photo
Connecticut Guard Assists PPE Distribution in North Haven
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (April 14, 2020) — Senior Airman Corey Beecher (front) and Staff Sgt. Sivarvong Meach, 103rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, offload boxes of personal protective equipment at the North Haven Recreation Center. The Connecticut National Guard assisted the Connecticut Department of Public Health in distributing masks, gloves and face shields to local residential care homes, nursing homes and long-term care facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Tucker
Navy Corpsmen Treat Patients on Hospital Ship USNS Mercy
LOS ANGELES (April 14, 2020) — Hospital-man Apprentice Pearl Alvarado, from San Antonio, administers medication to a patient aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy. Mercy deployed in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts and is serving as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore base hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. DoD is supporting FEMA, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Luke Cunningham
USPS Customer Service Continues During COVID-19 Response
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 9, 2020) — Sales & Services Associate Terri Huff (behind plexiglass) sells stamps to a customer at the Alexandria Post Office. Huff is part of the 600,000-employee workforce that continues processing, transporting and delivering mail and packages for the American public as part of the whole-of-America COVID-19 response. The Postal Service has a dedicated COVID-19 Command Response leadership team that is focusing on employee and customer safety.
U.S. Postal Service photo
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