Jens Spahn with a mask
Photo: Xander Heinl / photothek.net / imago images / photothekThere is a massive surplus of masks that currently prevails in the country, at least on paper. The Ministry of Health under Jens Spahn (CDU) has so far imported 2.7 billion mouth and nose protectors. Just under a billion is still in stock, and another billion is contractually guaranteed by the end of the year. Out of great concern that they would not get enough protective masks, the ministry had placed orders around the world quite hands-free in recent months.
However, only a fraction of the masks come from domestic production. When the supply bottlenecks became threatening, Spahn therefore decided to push domestic production. At the beginning of April there was a corresponding tender for respiratory protection and simple surgical masks. The production site, it said, had to be "in Germany". First delivery date: by August 15, 2020, the previous Saturday.
Forty-six suppliers were awarded the contract, they were part of a big plan: the agreed deliveries should increase the Ministry of Health's inventory by ten million FFP2 masks, which are mainly used in the hospital and care sector during the pandemic, and 40 million simple surgical masks to grow. Per week.
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