Coronavirus mask shortage prompts 3M, Honeywell response
Industrial giants Honeywell and 3M are racing to ramp up the production of protective facial masks amid a shortage as the deadly coronavirus spreads.
"We are experiencing a surge in demand for our protective face masks in North America, Europe and China. We are increasing production at multiple facilities globally, and we are fulfilling all current orders" a Honeywell spokesperson tells FOXBusiness. The company declined to identify which facilities would be ramping up.
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3M CEO Mike Roman, on the earnings call Tuesday, also said the company is boosting production to meet demand from the coronavirus. "We are seeing increased demand for our respiratory protection products and we are ramping up production worldwide," he said while also noting that China, before the coronavirus, was a sluggish market. Sales in the Asia-Pacific unit fell 1.7 percent. The company also noted it will cut 1,500 workers.
The deadly illness has claimed the lives of 106 individuals and has sickened nearly 4,500 prompting consumers around the globe to stockpile facial masks.
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Searching Amazon, FOX Business found certain masks available yet the delivery date was early to mid-February.
Despite a run on masks, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told the American public on Tuesday that masks, at this point, are unnecessary and the risk is extremely low while also noting public health officials are still learning about the severity of the virus.
Drugmakers are racing to develop a treatment for the coronavirus, in which flu-like symptoms develop in many cases according to the CDC.
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NanoViricides President and Chairman Anil Diwan told FOX Business' Stuart Varney the company is "four to six weeks away from having a candidate in hand" that would be a treatment for people infected.
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