Donald Trump under fire for sending PPE to China before US COVID-19 outbreak

Donald Trump has been criticised for donating PPE to China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Donald Trump has been criticised for donating PPE to China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo credit: Getty

President Donald Trump is being criticised for sending 16,147kg of personal protective equipment (PPE) to China just before the outbreak moved to the US.

According to a State Department press release the US gave supplies including ventilators, gauze and face masks to the original virus epicentre on February 7 to protect medical staff from COVID-19.

"The United States is and will remain the world's most generous donor," the press release says.

"We encourage the rest of the world to match our commitment. Working together, we can have a profound impact to contain this growing threat." 

At the time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the donations were a testament to the generosity of the American people.

On March 31 Congresswoman Maxine Waters hit out at Donald Trump on Twitter calling him a "complete idiot" for sending some of the country's supplies to China.

"You sent 18 tons of PPE to China early but ignored warnings and called COVID-19 concerns a hoax. You've endangered doctors, nurses, aides, orderlies, and janitors - all risking their lives to save ours. Pray for forgiveness for the harm that you're causing!"

An opinion piece by Dean Obeidallah for CNN has also criticised the Trump administration.

"I won't be so glib as to ask what happened to Trump's "America First" policy. That's too easy," he says.

"But the fact Trump claimed to comprehend the risk posed by the coronavirus and then shipped nearly 18 tons of equipment that includes much of what our medical staff are now pleading for means either he was lying or is dangerously incompetent. You can pick which one you believe. "

Since donating supplies to China, the United States has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases to the point the country is considered to be the new epicentre of the virus.

As of Wednesday, the United States has more confirmed cases than any other country at 213,372. This is over 100,000 more than Italy's 110,574 cases, and 131,000 more than China which has 82,361.

The United States has had 4633 coronavirus related deaths and 8434 cases recovered.

Due to the massive spike and extreme shortages, medical professionals are struggling to find PPE.

CNN reported some nurses and doctors are trying to find equipment online while others are pleading for help on social media.

One New Jersey doctor described the situation as "sending medical professionals like lambs to the slaughterhouse".

New York's mayor Andrew Cuomo says US states are competing in a bidding war to buy supplies.

"You have 50 states competing to buy the same item," he said.

"We all wind up bidding up each other and competing against each other, where you now literally will have a company call you up and say, 'Well, California just outbid you.' It's like being on eBay with 50 other states, bidding on a ventilator."

Now planes are flying in the other direction trying to get PPE back to the US.

The New York Times reported a commercial aircraft carrying 80 tons (72,574kg) of PPE from Shanghai touched down in New York on Sunday.

Lizzie Litzow, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it delivered 130,000 N95 masks, 1.8 million face masks and gowns, 10 million gloves and thousands of thermometers for distribution to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

It is the first of 22 flights expected to bring in goods to the COVID-19 stricken country by the end of April.

New Zealand is also taking measures to ensure medical professionals are well equipped during the pandemic with business leaders Zuru's Nick Mowbray, Graeme Hart, Sir Stephen Tindall, Craig Heatley and Sam Morgan in talks with the Government.

These discussions are reported to have led to seven cargo planes transporting more PPE to the country.