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Case 1:20-cv-02949-LAP Document 16-5 Filed 04/24/20 Page 1 of 4
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Dr. Deborah Birx, left, the coronavirus response coordinator,
Vice President Mike Pence and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz meet
at 3M company headquarters Thursday, March 5,
2020.
Peter Cox | MPR News
Updated at 6:45 pm.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is heading the
federal government’s effort to respond to the
COVID-19 outbreak, visited 3M’s Minnesota
headquarters Thursday and applauded the
company’s efforts to meet the demand for
medical masks.
"We're going to be working with members of
Congress to see if we can ensure sure that all of
what 3M creates here, some 35 million masks a
month, could be available to our health care
providers,” Pence told a group of 3M officials,
including CEO Mike Roman.
3M spokesperson Jennifer Ehrlich said the
number of respirators is “approximately the
current monthly production level in the U.S.”
Certified respirators are masks that reduce
exposure to airborne particles, including viruses.
Pence praises 3M for mask-production efforts as MN braces for
COVID-19
Peter Cox March 5, 2020 3:45 p.m.
Case 1:20-cv-02949-LAP Document 16-5 Filed 04/24/20 Page 2 of 4
Pence acknowledged that not enough COVID-19
testing kits had been made available so far, but
said authorities were working on that.
"As more Americans take interest in this, or have
concerns about this, we want to make sure they
access to a coronavirus test as well and we've
made real progress on that in the last several
days," he said.
Gov. Tim Walz and other Minnesota officials also
joined Pence in a roundtable at the Maplewood
facility. The company began ramping up its
production of the masks last January.
Pence’s visit included a tour of 3M’s Innovation
Center, where he saw a demonstration of the
technology used in manufacturing the masks.
Pence said some of the $8.3 billion approved by
Congress to fight the virus will go toward
purchasing supplies like respirator masks.
"Including more than $3 billion to procure
medical supplies like masks and to make sure
that those that are dealing with the coronavirus
as well as those that are providing them health
care have the protective equipment that they
have," he said.
At the conclusion of his visit, Pence and
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm
touched elbows rather than shake hands.
Officials stressed that the masks are unnecessary
for healthy people not employed in hospitals,
nursing homes or clinics. They said the masks
are primarily needed for those who are sick or
work around patients.
Minnesota o¨cials brace for ¦rst COVID-19 case
While there isn’t a case confirmed as of
Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health is
requesting $25 million in state funding to deal
with the coronavirus outbreak.
Deputy health commissioner Margaret Kelly said
she expects to be shifting staff to deal with the
outbreak for some time.
"We will average about 100 people in
redeployment for the length of the outbreak,” she
said, estimating the duration to be a year. “We
currently have 100 people redeployed, we will
have more as the outbreak progresses through
the state."
Kelly said Minnesota may need $40 million in
masks and other protective gear alone. Health
officials expected to run thousands of diagnostic
tests, at about $250 each, she said.
Cheryl Petersen-Kroeber, incident manager for
the outbreak, said the state is anticipating
purchase of millions of items like face masks.
The issues with trying to get enough [personal
protection equipment] is going to be a huge
challenge,” she said, “and that is our huge push
in trying to get people to be sensible with their
purchasing and their private stockpiling.”
Petersen-Kroeber said the state hopes to tap into
a national stockpile and federal funding to help
meet the demand.
The Health Department is boosting outreach
efforts, too, and says it convened a conference
call with more 800 people from the state's K-12
school systems. More than 100 people joined a
conference with colleges and universities across
the state. Another 700 people from nursing
homes and long-term health care facilities heard
from health officials this week.
MPR News reporter Tim Nelson contributed to this
article.
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