The coronavirus pandemic could last at least a year and a half and the government may invoke a 1950 law to force companies to ramp up production of crucial supplies, according to an internal government document.
The New York Times viewed the 100-page plan that's dated March 13, the day President Donald Trump declared a national emergency as his administration deals with the COVID-19 virus that originated in China late last year but has since spread worldwide, including to every U.S. state.
"Shortages of products may occur, impacting health care, emergency services, and other elements of critical infrastructure. This includes potentially critical shortages of diagnostics, medical supplies (including PPE and pharmaceuticals), and staffing in some locations," the document reads. PPE stands for personal protective equipment.
"State and local governments, as well as critical infrastructure and communications channels, will be stressed and potentially less reliable. These stresses may also increase the challenges of getting updated messages and coordinating guidance to these jurisdictions directly."
The pandemic could last more than 18 months, the document admits. One step the administration may take is invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950, which would give the president the power to order American manufacturers to increase the production of key supplies — in this case, things like ventilators, respirators, and masks.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., told the Times that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper indicated to him that the Pentagon would contribute 5 million respirator masks and as many as 2,000 specialized ventilators to the coronavirus fight.
"The American public is on wartime footing in terms of battling the spread of this disease, and the Pentagon has to be part of the effort to help protect the health and safety of the American people," Reed said.
Elsewhere, the Pentagon is preparing two hospital ships — Mercy and Comfort — to be used for civilian healthcare. The Naval vessels would be docked off the coast of U.S. cities and would take patients who are not infected with coronavirus to give hospitals more capacity to handle an influx of COVID-19 patients.