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As coronavirus hits, we should realize we’re relying too much on far-flung and stretched global supply chains

We’ve heard a lot in recent years about the benefits of a globalized supply chain. But this year, America’s international supply chain was tested by the coronavirus pandemic. It failed.
Patients are dying in hospitals all over the country. A New York City nurse, aged 48, has died of COVID-19. Medical staff are blaming the hospital for not providing enough protective gear. But protective gear is in desperately short supply nationwide; most of it comes from Asia.

In Italy, where the pandemic is more advanced, 5,211 health care workers are reported to have the virus; 33 have died so far. “Our doctors have been sent to war unarmed,” said the leader of Italy’s doctor’s association this week.

The U.S. has overtaken Italy and China to become the nation with the most COVID-19 cases—more than 143,00 cases. New York City is now ground zero for COVID-19, with nearly 800 deaths so far. A young New York pediatric surgeon recently wrote in the New York Times that “boxes of gloves and other personal protective equipment were dwindling.” She warned, “We are likely to run out of ventilators…We need more equipment and we need it now. Specifically, gloves, masks, eye protection and more ventilators.”
The gloves come mainly from Malaysia, which has suspended shipments due to shortages of supplies. Masks come mainly from China; manufacturers there have been told to meet all domestic orders first, before exporting. And although ventilators are manufactured mostly in the U.S., they depend on parts that come from China.




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