Masks from Newsom’s $1 billion coronavirus contract gain federal approval, allowing shipments
California will soon begin to receive shipments of N95 masks from China-based manufacturer BYD after federal regulators certified the products meet American standards, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Monday.
The company will begin shipping 150 million N95 masks to California “in the coming days,” Newsom’s office announced in a press release.
“Providing California’s front-line health care workers and responders the protective equipment they need is a critical part of our response to COVID-19,” Newsom said in a statement. “This new supply of N95 masks, as well as the surgical masks this contract has already provided, are game-changing and play a crucial role in our state’s public safety and reopening strategy.”
The news comes just days after California had granted the company an extension on its roughly $1 billion contract after the company missed two deadlines to secure certification.
The contract required BYD to secure approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to sell California N95 masks, which are believed to be the best protection for doctors, nurses and other critical workers against the coronavirus.
The federal institute, known as NIOSH, previously denied certification for the masks, citing “concerning” documentation.
California paid nearly $500 million up front for the masks in April, but BYD had to refund half the money in May after it missed the first deadline.
In its initial contract with BYD, California agreed to pay about $990 million for 300 million N95 masks.
Because BYD missed its first deadline, California is now only in contract for 150 million N95 masks, although the agreement allows for extensions in the future, said Brian Ferguson, spokesman for the governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
The approval from NIOSH means BYD can begin manufacturing the masks for California, Ferguson said, adding that shipments will not happen all at once, but will likely occur on a rolling basis. California will likely begin receiving the first shipments of N95 masks from BYD “in a matter of days,” he said.
Newsom first announced the deal with BYD to purchase 200 million masks per month, most of which he said would be N95s, during an appearance on MSNBC on April 7.
The state has already bought more than 110 million surgical masks from BYD, according to Newsom’s office. Surgical masks are believed to be less effective in preventing spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Masks from Newsom’s $1 billion coronavirus contract gain federal approval, allowing shipments."