DoD Stockpiles COVID-19 Supplies in Anticipation of Second Wave
The U.S. Department of Defense has a four-month supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) in preparation for an anticipated increase in COVID-19 cases. The supplies include respirators, gloves and masks for to assist military personnel and their families through the second wave of COVID-19. These supplies aren't part of the department's pandemic reserves, and were instead procured by the Defense Logistics Agency to help replenish on-hand stock for military services and geographic combatant commands. A clinical nurse assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego, administers a swab to test a patient for COVID-19. Much of the supplies will be used for patient care at military treatment facilities and by service members training or deployed worldwide, Army Col. Matthew Voyles, director of DLA Troop Support's medical supply chain. "The new reality is that all of our service members have got to have personal protective equipment," Voyles said. "This PPE will ...