VP Pence Calls on Construction Companies to Donate N95 Masks to Hospitals

As the coronavirus pandemic causes a shortage of available face masks, Vice President Mike Pence called on construction companies to donate their N95 masks to local hospitals that need them. Pence also urged construction companies to forgo new orders of masks.

“Those industrial masks that they use on construction sites are perfectly acceptable for health care workers to be protected from a respiratory disease,” Pence said at a White House briefing March 16. “We are asking construction companies that our president knows very well from his background … we’re asking them to donate their N95 masks to their local hospitals and also forgo making new orders.”

Face masks have been in high demand since the outbreak of the coronavirus, and in recent weeks wood floor pros noted a shortage of respirators on store shelves.

Several stores have placed limits on the number of masks that can be purchased. The CDC has recommended against the general public using the masks to protect themselves from the virus, noting that masks should instead be used by those who are already showing symptoms to prevent spreading the virus to others.