This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Massachusetts, medical officials found themselves in a desperate bid to acquire essential supplies. The situation had worsened significantly, with the state's death toll more than doubling in the seven-day period ending Sunday, eclipsing 1,700, and cases rising by more than 12,000, to 38,077, in that same period.
Dr. Artenstein, a medical official, recounted his experience in securing a shipment of one million masks. He drove several hours to execute the deal, but his joy was short-lived as the F.B.I. appeared, checking the shipment and seeking to verify his credentials.
Dr. Artenstein was initially glad that the F.B.I. agents were there to ensure that the masks were not going to the black market. However, other federal agencies soon got involved, leading to more than 10 hours of delays. It was only after the intervention of Representative Richard E. Neal, a Democrat and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, that the process ended.
According to Dr. Artenstein, the situation was a 'completely different way of operating.' He added, 'Typically we don’t triage supplies — it’s first come, first served.'
Dr. Artenstein's experience highlights the challenges faced by medical officials in securing essential supplies during the pandemic. As he noted, 'When I saw the pallets of supplies, and we tested the masks, I was pretty happy that this could work out.'
