Trump sends Bay State help
100 ventilators arrive ahead of pandemic surge
President Trump on Sunday said the feds are helping Massachusetts battle the coronavirus pandemic as the anticipated surge approaches the Bay State, which White House medical experts say they’re closely watching as one of the country’s top five hotspots.
Massachusetts will get help from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said the VA will help the Bay State “in their efforts to protect their most vulnerable citizens in two of their nursing homes.”
Wilkie didn’t name the Massachusetts nursing homes but at the state-owned Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 21 veterans have recently died, and the majority tested positive for coronavirus. A Norwood nursing home was also a coronavirus cluster with 15 recent deaths.
Trump also said the feds are also sending 100 ventilators to Massachusetts. The
Bay State had requested 1,000 ventilators from the National Strategic Stockpile.
“We’re also sending 100 ventilators to Massachusetts,” Trump said at a Sunday press briefing from the White House.
Gov. Charlie Baker earlier on Sunday said 100 ventilators had arrived.
Other states receiving ventilators include Illinois (600 ventilators), New Jersey (500), Michigan (300), and Louisiana (200).
FEMA is delivering the ventilators.
“It’s some job … just think about 500 ventilators,” Trump said about New Jersey. “A ventilator is a big deal.”
New York is the country’s top coronavirus hotspot with 4,159 deaths and 123,160 cases.
Massachusetts has 231 coronavirus deaths and 12,500 cases.
During the White House press briefing, Dr. Deborah Birx highlighted the Bay State as the country’s fourth state for most cumulative cases per 100,000 residents. The top three are New York, New Jersey and Louisiana.
“In the days ahead America will endure the peak of this terrible pandemic,” Trump said. “Our warriors in this life and death battle are the incredible doctors and nurses and health care workers on the front line of the fight.”