Making General Use Respirators Available

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 51 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 15049-15050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05580]

Memorandum of March 11, 2020

Making General Use Respirators Available

Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human
Services [and] the Secretary of Labor

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

It is the policy of the United States to take proactive
measures to prepare for and respond to public health
threats, including the public health emergency
involving Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which
was declared by the Secretary of Health and Human
Services on February 4, 2020, pursuant to section 564
of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
360bbb-3). We must ensure that our healthcare providers
have full access to the products they need. On March
10, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
took action by issuing a declaration pursuant to
section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d-6d), which will help bring products
necessary for addressing the epidemic to healthcare
providers across the Nation. Unfortunately, at present,
public health experts anticipate shortages in the
supply of personal respiratory devices (respirators)
available for use by healthcare workers in mitigating
further transmission of COVID-19.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Secretary
of Health and Human Services shall take all appropriate
and necessary steps with respect to general use
respirators to facilitate their emergency use by
healthcare personnel in healthcare facilities and
elsewhere, including under the authorities granted by
section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d-6d) and section 564 of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3).
Additionally, the Secretary of Labor shall consider all
appropriate and necessary steps to increase the
availability of respirators.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services is
authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in
the Federal Register.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, March 11, 2020