VIDEO AND PHOTO RELEASE: MAYOR GARCETTI WELCOMES FIRST SHIPMENT OF N95 MASKS FROM HONEYWELL
LOS ANGELES, May 28, 2020 –– Mayor Eric Garcetti today welcomed the delivery of the first part of a larger order of 24 million N95 masks purchased by the City from Honeywell for doctors, nurses, firefighters, and first responders.
“We have to protect the people who are protecting us –– from the nurses meeting admitted patients with compassion to our firefighters at testing sites,” said Mayor Garcetti. “These N95 masks will help ensure healthcare workers get the equipment they need to save lives and protect their own.”
On April 28, Mayor Garcetti announced a historic order of 24 million N95 masks from Honeywell which are being manufactured at their Phoenix, Arizona plant. The agreement with Honeywell was negotiated through the City’s General Services Department and Logistics Victory L.A. (LoVLA), an initiative Mayor Garcetti launched to connect frontline medical workers in need of personal protective equipment with suppliers who can provide needed resources in the fight against COVID-19.
“LoVLA is pleased to bring these masks to our region’s frontline health care workers,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, who is leading the LoVLA effort as Mayor Garcetti’s appointed Chief Logistics Officer during this crisis. “This milestone procurement, coupled with our work to fortify and expedite the region’s medical supply chain, show progress in LoVLA’s mission to build PPE stockpiles and help medical organizations in critical need of these supplies.”
The masks were purchased at a competitive market rate and will be delivered at cost to hospitals and health care providers throughout Los Angeles. From this first shipment of 100,000 masks, LoVLA will distribute 90,000 N95 masks to hospitals at cost, and 10,000 will go to Fire Department personnel. Shipments of N95 masks will continue to scale over the coming months reaching 1.2 million masks per month by November.
To learn more about LoVLA or register your organization’s need for supplies, please visit www.LoVLA.org.