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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,882 posts)
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 09:41 AM Apr 2020

A Million N95 Masks Are Coming From China--on Board the New England Patriots' Plane

Source: The Wall Street Journal.

NFL

A Million N95 Masks Are Coming From China—on Board the New England Patriots’ Plane

The Massachusetts governor struck a deal for supplies but needed a way to transport them. The result was a tense saga and a shipment on the NFL team’s 767.

By Andrew Beaton
April 2, 2020 6:00 am ET

At 3:38 a.m. Wednesday morning, the New England Patriots’ team plane departed from an unusual locale: Shenzhen, China. On board the Boeing 767, in the cargo hold that used to be home to Tom Brady’s duffel bags, were 1.2 million N95 masks bound for the U.S.

Video and pictures of the event show workers in masks and full-body suits at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport loading box after box of the scarce and valuable personal protective equipment onto a red, white and blue plane emblazoned with the Patriots logo and “6X CHAMPIONS.”

The plane was permitted to be on the ground in China for a maximum of three hours, people familiar with the matter said, and the crew was required to stay on the plane while a ground crew loaded the cargo. It took 2 hours and 57 minutes. On Thursday, that plane will land somewhere more familiar: Boston Logan International Airport.

The story of this remarkable delivery, based on documents and interviews with people involved in the operation, is a window into the frenzied scramble by states to acquire life-saving equipment needed to battle the coronavirus pandemic. The process involves not just tracking down goods, but also tapping intermediaries and calling in favors to navigate a dense global bureaucracy that the pandemic has virtually paralyzed.

As the country and the medical system have grappled with responding to the virus, one of the greatest pressure points has been the shortage of N95 masks, critical equipment to protect against its spread. Demand has significantly outpaced supply, putting health-care workers and patients at even greater risk.

{snip}

Write to Andrew Beaton at andrew.beaton@wsj.com

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-million-n95-masks-are-coming-from-chinaon-board-the-new-england-patriots-plane-11585821600



https://twitter.com/andrewlbeaton
46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A Million N95 Masks Are Coming From China--on Board the New England Patriots' Plane (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2020 OP
Looks like the team owner is being mercuryblues Apr 2020 #1
Funny, as nice a thought as it is to deliver them....... MyOwnPeace Apr 2020 #28
Ahh, no. former9thward Apr 2020 #43
Great news..Just wondering Who will be in charge whathehell Apr 2020 #2
The governors office I would assume Marrah_Goodman Apr 2020 #10
I hope no one coughed on them while they were being made. OhZone Apr 2020 #3
They were made more than a few days ago greymattermom Apr 2020 #4
If you say so. OhZone Apr 2020 #6
That's true. ananda Apr 2020 #21
Here is some info on the risks. I used to worry about that too IronLionZion Apr 2020 #35
Wonder how much $$$? keithbvadu2 Apr 2020 #5
Depending on the mask awesomerwb1 Apr 2020 #8
I'm getting offers daily from China on N95 masks. OAITW r.2.0 Apr 2020 #11
Could these be part of Scarsdale Apr 2020 #16
My thoughts exactly padah513 Apr 2020 #19
+++ quaint Apr 2020 #25
Ok, masks sent to china from our national stockpile for free. Then purchased by us at a price and mitch96 Apr 2020 #39
Taiwan to Donate Ten Million Masks to U.S., E.U. catsudon Apr 2020 #34
Cool awesomerwb1 Apr 2020 #7
Ideally doctors/nurses/hospital staff would have at least 1 new mask per shift. A million masks RockRaven Apr 2020 #17
What we need more than anything Scarsdale Apr 2020 #18
That's my Pats *love* Marrah_Goodman Apr 2020 #9
This is what We, as a Nation, have devolved into. DEbluedude Apr 2020 #12
Wonder if these are defective, as were the most recent shipments worldwide SheltieLover Apr 2020 #13
Check the extra crates for massage parlor workers greenjar_01 Apr 2020 #14
Oh, how you think............... MyOwnPeace Apr 2020 #29
How about the workers who were stepping on MosheFeingold Apr 2020 #15
But - but - Scarsdale Apr 2020 #20
F-her MosheFeingold Apr 2020 #22
China isn't the only manufacturing base.. stillcool Apr 2020 #32
We can? HarlanPepper Apr 2020 #31
Oh please MosheFeingold Apr 2020 #33
Damn good post MosheFeingold! Devil Child Apr 2020 #42
Didn't the owner of the jet have a problem in Florida with under age Chinese girls? rockfordfile Apr 2020 #23
I don't think so MosheFeingold Apr 2020 #30
I just bought some KN95 face masks on Amazon probably coming from China. honest.abe Apr 2020 #24
I bought some too... AntiFascist Apr 2020 #45
Looks like FDA changed their mind on this. honest.abe Apr 2020 #46
Good for him. Yes he's conservative but he's done some very good things for people.... George II Apr 2020 #26
That's fine matt819 Apr 2020 #27
Oh for Pete fucking sakes! We have military cargo planes that should be doing this! Canoe52 Apr 2020 #36
Buying back what the Chinese government hoarded at the start of all this Devil Child Apr 2020 #37
hope it is not re-pack from netherlands catsudon Apr 2020 #38
Are these the same ones Jared K sent from our national stockpile weeks ago? Also, Kraft FailureToCommunicate Apr 2020 #40
Selling them back to us, are they? Hekate Apr 2020 #41
... while Trump continues to fail bigly. n/t AntiFascist Apr 2020 #44

MyOwnPeace

(16,887 posts)
28. Funny, as nice a thought as it is to deliver them.......
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:51 AM
Apr 2020

that was my first thought too - "Thanks, Donnie - no charges!
PS: Thanks for the tip on "the blonde! "

former9thward

(31,798 posts)
43. Ahh, no.
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 07:01 PM
Apr 2020

Those charges went nowhere. Prosecutors offered to drop them with a diverion program and Kraft refused. The video was tossed by the judge. The charges will never see a courtroom.

IronLionZion

(45,250 posts)
35. Here is some info on the risks. I used to worry about that too
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:10 PM
Apr 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/26/dont-panic-about-shopping-getting-delivery-or-accepting-packages/

Yes, the virus can be detected on some surfaces for up to a day, but the reality is that the levels drop off quickly. For example, the article shows that the virus’s half-life on stainless steel and plastic was 5.6 hours and 6.8 hours, respectively. (Half-life is how long it takes the viral concentration to decrease by half, then half of that half, and so on until it’s gone.)

awesomerwb1

(4,256 posts)
8. Depending on the mask
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:11 AM
Apr 2020

Bulk pricing could be as low as $1.20 per mask according to one person i know whose company is trying to sell them in the US.

OAITW r.2.0

(23,810 posts)
11. I'm getting offers daily from China on N95 masks.
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:24 AM
Apr 2020

Latest was $1.75 ea. (free shipping!). These are trading companies that normally trade in electro-mechanical components - PCBs, plastic injection moldings. Prices and availability will change daily as panic buying sets in and opportunistic pricing dominates.

mitch96

(13,816 posts)
39. Ok, masks sent to china from our national stockpile for free. Then purchased by us at a price and
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 02:16 PM
Apr 2020

sent back. Split the price between the two.. Yup.. Follow the money.. I hope I'm wrong...
m

catsudon

(839 posts)
34. Taiwan to Donate Ten Million Masks to U.S., E.U.
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:07 PM
Apr 2020

for free, US will get about 2 Million

I want this batch

awesomerwb1

(4,256 posts)
7. Cool
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:09 AM
Apr 2020

Now we only need about one billion(or two or more) more. And that one billion is not an exaggeration - at all. The US has a population of 340,000,000ish with 200,000,000 adults. That would be 4 masks per person. One person would go through 4 masks in no time. We should all be wearing masks and gloves (imo) but they're almost impossible to find.

Now factor in the hospital/health workers/first responders/police departments and you can see we need billions of masks.

RockRaven

(14,782 posts)
17. Ideally doctors/nurses/hospital staff would have at least 1 new mask per shift. A million masks
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:42 AM
Apr 2020

would be used up damn quick if they were given the resources they deserve -- one million masks isn't even one mask for each health care worker in the country.

Heck, health care workers alone would easily go through a billion masks during this pandemic if given the resources they deserve (1M doctors + 3M nurses + ?M techs/orderlies/support staff X 200+shifts).

Something is better than nothing, and I guess this is something, but it's a pittance compared to what is needed. Very much in "cool story, bro" territory. What's the plan to get the other 999+ millions of masks which are needed? We're going to run out of "white billionaire to the rescue" stories long before we get enough masks.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
18. What we need more than anything
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:45 AM
Apr 2020

once this is under control, is a president with a BRAIN, plus a competent administration of qualified people. No more hiring of relatives, or donors. This epidemic need not have gotten this far, if only SOMEONE had been watching the developments in other countries. Oh, wait all those people were fired.

DEbluedude

(812 posts)
12. This is what We, as a Nation, have devolved into.
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:27 AM
Apr 2020

Individual states scrambling to acquire life-saving medical supplies from a foreign adversary. MAGA!!! I wanna puke.

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)
15. How about the workers who were stepping on
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:39 AM
Apr 2020

And spitting on masks to be sent to the USA?

It's unsurprising given the horrid propaganda the CCP feeds its people.

But a reminder China needs to be removed from our critical supply chain.

The moment that Chinese health official threatened to withhold antivirals invented in the USA but made in China, I knew it was time to revisit our relationship.

We're going to have a lot of unemployed people. They can get good jobs making the stuff we used to get from China.

That's something Bernie Bros (like me), Biden Guys, and Trumpian morons can all agree on.

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
20. But - but -
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 10:49 AM
Apr 2020

What about all those trademarks Ivanka worked so hard to acquire? She planned to make herself SO wealthy from these goods from Jyna. It is beyond time to get these jobs BACK, plus get a REAL president and administration in the WH. This is NOT a family business, and never should have been run as one.

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)
22. F-her
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:09 AM
Apr 2020

And all the Lear-Jet-Flying Elites -- supposed liberals one included, too.

I'm all about finding common ground and consensus. Pretty much the one place Bernie Bros and Trumpian idiots agree is we need to help the American worker. The people working at Costco. The orderlies at hospitals. The union worker.

China is run by a dangerous, imperialistic, elite, allied with our Elite. From Ivanka to the Koch Bros to supposed progressive Silicon Valley billionaires to the Waltons at Wal-Mart. They're all using us.

Bring back jobs from China. They can, and must, come home.

stillcool

(32,626 posts)
32. China isn't the only manufacturing base..
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:49 PM
Apr 2020

for American corporations. Slave labor is all over...even here....as are the dangerous, imperialistics. I don't think of them as 'elite', I think of them as the GOP. I could care less about what China is doing, when everywhere I look my country is being destroyed. Even while manufacturing his wares in China, Trump had 'made in China' his campaign issue. Looks like the chorus is getting fine-tuned.

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)
33. Oh please
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:52 PM
Apr 2020

I guess the Nazis were just misunderstood, too.

The CCP is an evil organization. It had rounded up, killed, raped, and “re-educated” its entire Uighur population.

It just flat lied about the severity of the CV19 problem, effectively screwing the whole world.

And now it is pushing absurd stories that the USA created the virus.

It threatens to hold back vital drugs simply to kill Americans.

There is nothing “xenophobic” about calling out the evil, imperialistic, intent of the rulers of China.

 

Devil Child

(2,728 posts)
42. Damn good post MosheFeingold!
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 03:47 PM
Apr 2020

It’s absurd to equate criticism of the Chinese government as “xenophobic.”

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)
30. I don't think so
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 12:16 PM
Apr 2020

Massage parlor hanky-panky, but of age.

The sting, BTW, literally filmed hundreds of normal people naked just getting legit massages.

And, as such a horrible intrusion of normal peoples' privacy was all thrown out.

Can't believe the warrants judges sign these days.

honest.abe

(8,556 posts)
24. I just bought some KN95 face masks on Amazon probably coming from China.
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:13 AM
Apr 2020

I know they are not approved by the FDA but seems to me they should be better than not using one at all or using a home made mask.

Not sure if they will get held up at customs.. we shall see.

George II

(67,782 posts)
26. Good for him. Yes he's conservative but he's done some very good things for people....
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:23 AM
Apr 2020

When the Parkland students organized their rally in Washington, he sent the Patriots' plane down there and flew them to Washington.

matt819

(10,749 posts)
27. That's fine
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 11:42 AM
Apr 2020

But the fact that the entire US Government couldn't manage to accomplish this is shameful.

Makes you wonder, though, how many billionaires might have done, or be doing, the same thing, but without the need for the public acknowledgement. And if they aren't, then it makes you wonder why not. Which brings us around to my first point. Why the fuck isn't our own government doing this?

One more thing. Is anyone else thinking "third world country" when you see people making face masks at home? How the (maybe not so) mighty have fallen.

Canoe52

(2,944 posts)
36. Oh for Pete fucking sakes! We have military cargo planes that should be doing this!
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:12 PM
Apr 2020

What a load of crap orangealinin and his minions are. I hope there is a big trial after this and all these criminals spend the rest of their lives incarcerated.

 

Devil Child

(2,728 posts)
37. Buying back what the Chinese government hoarded at the start of all this
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 01:33 PM
Apr 2020

That said, I’m very happy with any delivery of critical supplies to my state during this crisis.

Good work Mr. Kraft.

FailureToCommunicate

(13,988 posts)
40. Are these the same ones Jared K sent from our national stockpile weeks ago? Also, Kraft
Thu Apr 2, 2020, 02:30 PM
Apr 2020

is trying to make up for throwing away Tom Brady from the Patriot's.

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