Arizona boosts PPE supplies through federal program Project Airbridge

PHOENIX — Arizona has received much-needed personal protective equipment through the Trump administration’s coordination of the public-private partnership Project Airbridge.

The federal response helped Arizona bolster its PPE numbers while the state experienced a rapid increase in coronavirus cases and deaths. From April 18 to 24, the state had a supply of 82,900 N95 face masks, 567,000 surgical masks, 10,700 face shields, 263,300 surgical gowns and 8,363,500 surgical gloves, according to Special Assistant to the President Meghan Burris.

Project Airbridge operates within the Supply Chain Task Force and is said to expedite the process through which critical medical supplies are delivered to the United States from other countries by decreasing shipment times.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency covers the costs necessary to fly medical supplies from overseas factories into United States operational hub airports.

Once the supplies reach the U.S., 50% are distributed to nearby hotspots — determined by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — while the other 50% are allocated to the distributors’ regular supply chain.

As of Monday, FEMA had obligated a total of $25.9 million for Arizona’s coronavirus response efforts.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday an upcoming trip to Phoenix on May 5 where he will visit a Honeywell facility and address medical equipment manufacturing.

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