U.S. manufacturing is “stepping up” to produce medical products needed to treat cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the head of a major trade and lobbying group said today.
“They’re stepping up to keep supplying the essentials,” Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the Washington-based National Association of Manufacturers, said during a news conference.
Companies are producing gloves, protective face masks and other products used by health care workers, Timmons said.
“We’ve heard from 1,600 companies willing to step up and keep this country healthy,” the NAM chief said. “The response is strong and growing.”
Timmons said he was neutral about whether the Defense Production Act should be used to force manufacturers to produce respirators and other key medical equipment. President Donald Trump has invoked the act but has been restrained in using it.