May 21 Coronavirus Update from the Trump Administration

Mobilizing American Industry

• Today, President Trump will visit the Ford Motor Company’s Rawsonville manufacturing plant, which is working on the frontlines to produce ventilators and PPE.
  • Ford announced in March that it was partnering with GE to produce 50,000 ventilators in just 100 days.
• American workers across the country just like those at the Ford plant are stepping up to do their part in the fight against coronavirus.
• President Trump has utilized the Defense Production Act to spur unprecedented private sector action to produce resources needed for coronavirus response.

Historic Ventilator Production

• President Trump has led an unprecedented effort to increase ventilator production in record time.
• As a result of the President’s efforts, every American who has needed a ventilator has been able to get one.
• States that previously feared a severe ventilator shortage – such as New York – were able to send ventilators to other areas in need because they had more than enough.
• We have produced so many ventilators we have been able to ship excess supplies to others in need. So far we have shipped more than 1,300 ventilators to partners and allies overseas.

The Administration has also delivered:

• Over 113 million N95 respirator masks
• Nearly half a billion surgical masks
• Nearly 18 million face shields
• Over 12 billion gloves

HHS Provides $225 Million for COVID-19 Testing in Rural Communities (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided $225 million to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for COVID-19 testing.  These investments will support over 4,500 RHCs across the country to support COVID-19 testing efforts and expand access to testing in rural communities.

USDA, FDA Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain Protections during COVID-19 Pandemic (HERE)

• As a next step in carrying out Executive Order 13917, the USDA and FDA today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF, 137 KB) to help prevent interruptions at FDA-regulated food facilities, including fruit and vegetable processing.

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Final Rule to Expand Access to Bouses for American Workers (HERE)

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) today announced a final rule that allows employers to offer bonuses or other incentive-based pay to employees whose hours vary from week to week.

Update: The United States Continues to Lead the Global Response to COVID-19 (HERE)

The American people have given more than $10 billion that will benefit the global COVID-19 response, and we continue to ensure that the substantial U.S. funding and scientific efforts on this front remain a central and coordi