As American COVID-19 cases rise, so does the demand for medical supplies.
Some of our country’s most recognizable companies are pivoting to meet the demand. Distilleries are using their supplies and manufacturing capabilities to make hand sanitizer. General Motors and Tesla are working to produce badly-needed ventilators.
Ford announced that it was teaming up with GE Healthcare and 3M to produce respirators using batteries and fans, products the car manufacturer would normally put in their vehicles.
But The Verge’s Sean O’Kane notes: “spinning up medical equipment manufacturing operations is likely to take a lot longer than people like President Trump have made it seem, regardless of whether he invokes the Defense Production Act.” That law gives the president more control over industrial production during emergencies.
How easy is it for companies to produce these products? When would these products hit the market?
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