Why the U.S. Is Running Out of Medical Supplies

<p>States and cities across the United States are reporting dangerous shortages of the vital medical supplies needed to contain the coronavirus. Why is the world’s biggest economy suffering such a scramble to find lifesaving equipment?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/sarah-kliff?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">Sarah Kliff</a>, an investigative reporter covering health care for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>The scarcity of ventilators has become an emergency, forcing doctors to make<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/us/coronavirus-medical-rationing.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> life-or-death decisions</a>. The collapse of a<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/business/coronavirus-us-ventilator-shortage.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> government effort to produce an emergency stockpile</a> reveals much about the challenges now being faced in fighting the pandemic.</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/17/upshot/hospital-bed-shortages-coronavirus.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">This map of the United States</a> shows gaps in the existing health care infrastructure — and which areas may face a shortage of hospital beds as the virus spreads.</li></ul>