TAMPA, Fla. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday it would be donating 225,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to first responders on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
“EPA is working hard to support our nation’s first responders as they risk their own safety to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “After searching our inventory of personal protective equipment, we identified excess supplies and sent them to those on the frontlines of this fight. At EPA we are here to help in any way we can and I encourage everyone else to do the same.”
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According to a press release, the EPA is developing a plan for the rapid distribution of the PPE to FEMA or state and local governments in need in the coming days.
The EPA says it has a supply of PPE as parts of its emergency response functions. That includes situations like responding to chemical, oil, radiological, biological and hazardous incidents.
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According to the release, the agency determined how much PPE it would need for essential functions. The excess is the donation.