I Spent A Day In The Coronavirus-Driven Feeding Frenzy Of N95 Mask Sellers And Buyers And This Is What I Learned

Forbes ^ | 3/30/20 | David DiSalvo

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Greenland needs to be investigated, deeply. Wonder if there is any Red Chinese money invested in it?

[Zhang Fei]

[Including to China

https://mobile.twitter.com/CloverChron/status/1245219960562962432

So we won’t have them]

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A Freeper translation:

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http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3830455/posts?page=13#13
[She says several times how happy she is to have bought so many masks. She mentions having driven 1.5 hours to central FL, where there are no Chinese (buying up masks), and people are very kind, and the locals don’t know the issue about face masks (then in China). Other things she says are here I am buying them, here I am putting them in my car, etc...

She does NOT say: “It feels so awesome to buy all the masks! I didn’t leave a single mask for the Americans!” Someone wrote that later on the video as it got forwarded. She also did NOT say she was going to ship them to China.

Someone in the comments mentioned its from January 2020, which makes sense. She’s native Chinese, now living in America. She knows what was happening at that time in China (everyone looking for masks as coronavirus took off in China) and she is very happy she’s able to get some for herself for preparation.

IMHO, she’s kind of stupid, a crowd-follower and panicky person (like many Chinese women I know, frankly). She’s bragging to her Chinese friends / viewers that she was able to get the masks and to have gotten ahead of the game. But she is not saying anything anti-American.]

[njslim]

When people in area heard that local hardware store had gotten supply of N95 masks went in bought them out and donated to hospital

[Sacajaweau]

I just ordered both washable cloth (3) (mADE IN usa) and 20 throwaway masks. Throwaways at Walmart. 7 day delivery. 20 for $22 free delivery.

[NELSON111]

>>>By the end of the day, roughly 280 million masks from warehouses around the U.S. had been purchased by foreign buyers and were earmarked to leave the country, according to the broker — and that was in one day

ANYONE who watched "Event 201" knew this was going to happen - they spelled it out for you in Segment 1. When this started in China (they only had 500 cases at the time) - I watched the whole thing on YouTube - all 6 segments - and having been a player in the world of government tabletop exercises - I knew that if this "coronavirus" thing turned out to be a true global pandemic - THIS was going to be their playbook. Here are just some of the notes I took about the N-95 masks:

ii. Every country for themselves?
iii. NO – global distribution
iv. Stockpiling of supplies from larger/wealthy countries and a centralization of supplies in key equipment
1. PO (Personal Observation): PPE will become hard to come by very early on as governments seize supply chain (are we are seeing the beginnings of this already)
v. Be “honest brokers” with UN footing the bill and running the show
vi. Collaborations B/W UN and private sectors to keep supply chains open

Once I watched the series- and knowing what I know about tabletop exercises - I immediately went out and ordered boxes of N95 masks on Amazon - and gloves - and went and bought some at the local hardware store. I've already been able to give some to dear friends who are nurses...plus keep some for myself just in case we need them.

It's not rocket science.

[thinden]

Greenland needs to be investigated, deeply. Wonder if there is any Red Chinese money invested in it?

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Is greenland owned or operated by di fi chi spy’s hubby??

[NELSON111]

I realized I should have just included the rest of the N95 notes as well:

vii. Really worried about supply chain
viii. “Global public good” to facilitate supply chain management
ix. People “hoarding PPE” – not talked about in a fond manner
1. Watch for knockoffs
2. International Mechanism for coordination and allocation of PPE
x. Develop centralized stockpile
xi. How much will states contribute from their own stockpiles (both of PPE and antivirals)

e. Global Bank –
i. talking about supply chain disruptions
ii. Who has control of supplies
iii. Where are supplies needed for greater global good
1. PO: How well does the ABOVE philosophy play in the world of Trump?
iv. Understands that governments will NOT ship what they need at home – offshore because they will be challenged domestically
v. Populist candidates in US, UK and Germany say globalism responsible for this pandemic – and thus there is a “rising protectionist nature to take care of their own”
vi. Business, health and scientific communities need to combat that rising rhetoric.

[wastoute]

Thank God for Trump not Her Thighness.

[HollyB]

Yes it’s a Chinese company from what I understand

[griswold3]

One point. There were at least 1.5 Million (reported) masks found past their expiration dates. Only recently had the FDA extended the use dates
Masks and other PPE materials are now allowed by the FDA to be sterilized (Battell). It took a while for the approval
Also. “ just in time” supply chain management is kaput

[Wuli]

Trump can and should ban their export for the duration.

[Freedom56v2]

Basically, I ask why the h*ll our government is allowing the most precious resources we need to fight this Pandemic to be taken out from under us?

Seems to me these PPE medical items are just as important to us as any national security item or weapon...

Ought to be a law...Oh yeah, there is one~THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.

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“Money quote” from article:

By the end of the DAY, roughly 280 MILLION MASKS FROM WAREHOUSES AROUND THE US HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY FOREIGN BUYERS AND WERE EARMARKED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, according to the broker — and that was in ONE DAY.

[Freedom56v2]

I just ordered both washable cloth (3) (mADE IN usa) and 20 throwaway masks. Throwaways at Walmart. 7 day delivery. 20 for $22 free delivery.

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The article is addressing the sale of N95 Respirator masks.

I looked on Walmart.com and saw no N95 respirators...But I did see the basic masks to which I think you were referring...

Questions:

1. Are you saying that the article is false because you were able to buy 20 disposables from Walmart for under $25?

2. Were the 20 disposables certified/approved 3M N95 respirators or simply loose-fitting masks...

I am not addressing the 3 washables...They are not N95..

[Freedom56v2]

>>>By the end of the day, roughly 280 million masks from warehouses around the U.S. had been purchased by foreign buyers and were earmarked to leave the country, according to the broker — and that was in one day
ANYONE who watched “Event 201” knew this was going to happen - they spelled it out for you in Segment 1. When this started in China (they only had 500 cases at the time) - I watched the whole thing on YouTube - all 6 segments - and having been a player in the world of government tabletop exercises - I knew that if this “coronavirus” thing turned out to be a true global pandemic - THIS was going to be their playbook. Here are just some of the notes I took about the N-95 masks:

ii. Every country for themselves?
iii. NO – global distribution
iv. Stockpiling of supplies from larger/wealthy countries and a centralization of supplies in key equipment
1. PO (Personal Observation): PPE will become hard to come by very early on as governments seize supply chain (are we are seeing the beginnings of this already)
v. Be “honest brokers” with UN footing the bill and running the show
vi. Collaborations B/W UN and private sectors to keep supply chains open

Once I watched the series- and knowing what I know about tabletop exercises - I immediately went out and ordered boxes of N95 masks on Amazon - and gloves - and went and bought some at the local hardware store. I’ve already been able to give some to dear friends who are nurses...plus keep some for myself just in case we need them.

It’s not rocket science.

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Thanks for sharing this....I have heard about it...Did not know it was on YouTube. I probs should watch this now...

[Freedom56v2]

I really question even having an expiration date on an N95...Maybe the elastic straps could deteriorate, but would the filters actually diminish?

[griswold3]

A University study concerning PPE says masks are germ/virus catchers after 30 minutes of use because of the moisture on them during use. Apparently, you shouldn’t breathe with a mask on.
Surgical masks catch 89% of .02 Micron particles (the size of the Covid-19 virus) but after 30 minutes it reduces because of the moisture content. So....

[Yollopoliuhqui]

M & M Enterprises

[jimmygrace]

You can blame anti-price gouging laws for 1) the hoarding, 2) the slow resupply, and 3) the skittishness to sell for an elevated price to Americans while foreigners will have no problem paying the higher price. Capitalism doesn’t work well with price gouging laws in place.

[Freedom56v2]

University study concerning PPE says masks are germ/virus catchers after 30 minutes of use because of the moisture on them during use. Apparently, you shouldn’t breathe with a mask on.
Surgical masks catch 89% of .02 Micron particles (the size of the Covid-19 virus) but after 30 minutes it reduces because of the moisture content. So....

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So......

Did you read the article I posted? Funny how much demand there is for something you seem to be implying doesn’t protect...Or maybe you are being sarcastic as you state don’t breath when wearing them...I cannot tell what you mean to say here.

However, with all due respect, which university study are you citing?

There are university studies and experts saying they work for longer...

Logic...if they don’t work as your unlinked “university study” states, then why are the hospitals so desperate to get them for their staff???

If they don’t work, why are the prices skyrocketing globally? Why does the article state MILLIONS are being bought up to be exported out of the USA.

Frankly, the CDC and WHO have done their best to discourage mass wearing, yet medical professionals in South Korea are questioning that position.

And there are articles in both NY Times and NY Post this week stating that there is a change in thinking—masks may actually be a good thing for citizens to use when going out...Think about that...So while the virus is gaining momentum, CDC and WHO says citizens don’t need masks, they don’t work etc...Now that the virus has a foothold, they are changing tune...

There is a shortage which has been driving the narratives...Shortages caused for a number of reasons...Sadly, a perfect storm.

But hey, it is a free country, so you can choose to go out without protection if you don’t think they work...

[Freedom56v2]

You can blame anti-price gouging laws for 1) the hoarding, 2) the slow resupply, and 3) the skittishness to sell for an elevated price to Americans while foreigners will have no problem paying the higher price. Capitalism doesn’t work well with price gouging laws in place.

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With all due respect, how can I blame anti-price gouging laws? What are the laws to which you are are referring?

Can you please provide a link to said laws?

Seems to me that price gouging is exactly what is going on right NOW...and has been since January...

Resupply? We have allowed our “trade partner” China to have control of huge % of our medical supply/device industry.

Skittishness to sell to Americans at higher prices? Seriously? Please re-read the article...Our government purchase offices will pay, but the brokers are not waiting for the funding authorizations, etc.
Would our country allow the export of supplies our military needs?

IMHO, capitalism is not the issue...This is a national defense issue, and the export of masks needs to stop...