Chinese billionaire Jack Ma donating 500,000 coronavirus tests and 1,000,000 masks to US

[PA Democrat]

I heard this on Morning Joe and the only source I have found so far is the Daily Mail.

China's richest man is donating one million face masks and 500,000 coronavirus test kits to the United States to help the world's largest economy fight the outbreak, which has killed at least 5,000 people worldwide.

The tycoon's aid comes as Beijing and Washington spar over the origin of the deadly disease, known as COVID-19.

Jack Ma, worth £31.6billion, announced the decision on Friday through his account on Twitter-like Weibo.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8105199/Chinas-richest-man-Jack-Ma-donates-one-million-face-masks-500-000-test-kits-US.html

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. More than the stable genius has done

[MFGsunny]

4. This! +1,000,000 n/t

[rainin]

7. Money only flows one way with the stable genius and that is up

[Maraya1969]

2. It's weird that another country has to help us.

[wryter2000]

25. Remember the winter of 2001 when Enron was screwing with our power?

Vicente Fox sent us power from Mexico.

[blueinredohio]

3. Depends on where he sends them if they'll be used for us peons

or the rich.

[DENVERPOPS]

32. I guarantee you

that none of them will ever reach the U.S.

#1 The Republicans will say that they can't be trusted coming from a foreign nation.

#2 The Republicans will only sanction and approve stuff that is made by a U.S. corporation so the profits go to the company's executives, (but of course, only after a contract with Ivanka & Jared that gives a substantial cut fo the profits to Trump Industries....
and Mitch's PAC...

Did you read where the feds sent a really tiny number of test kits to California, and all of them were un-useable because they were missing needed components........

[NBachers]

44. Living in California, and in dire need of a test, I believe this is intentional. Voter die-off

is the trump / republican plan.

[DENVERPOPS]

48. Agreed, only blue states need worry

Frankly, I'm flabbergasted that he hasn't begun selling Tests on his MAGA product website for a thousand apiece.......of course the processing of the test is another two thousand a piece.......

Jared and Ivanka are in charge now of protecting and supplementing the Family income........
This virus is an overwhelming opportunity to grift..............

[Magoo48]

45. If they're sent to the feds, regular folks won't ever see any of it.

[superpatriotman]

5. Maybe the world will throw us a benefit concert

Live Aid for America

[Mike 03]

9. ...

Remember the "Sun City" benefit? Maybe they can call it "Dumb City."

[superpatriotman]

11. Wigstock

[Bayard]

13. You're killing me!

[Ms. Toad]

6. Tests and test kits are two different things.

Test kits can generate up to 1000 tests. Because of dual testing & validation, one test kit generally tests 300-400 individuals.

The article says "test kits." But it's a right wing tabloid, so I don't know whether they understand the distinction.

[PA Democrat]

16. When I heard this on Morning Joe, I'm pretty sure they used the word "tests"

Yeah, the source is not the best, but I haven'y been able to find another one. Jack Ma posted this on the Chinese version of twitter.

I sincerely hope this is true and that these supplies are on their way. It would be just like the Orange Ignoramus to refuse his offer.

[Ms. Toad]

18. Even if they arrive, implementing testing is challenging.

In our county, doctors are referring patients to Quest Diagnostics to be tested. Unfortunately, Quest doesn't take samples - those have to be sent from the doctors. But the doctors don't want potentially exposed individuals to come in to their offices and expose others. (My spouse is on the county board of health - this was a topic at last night's meeting.)

So there will be logistical problems even if the tests arrive.

ETA: Here's another source

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1238317660871393280&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle%2Fjack-ma-coronavirus-masks-kits%2F

[Maru Kitteh]

31. Question - do you happen to know how Denver is providing drive-thru testing?

I've had no time to look into who exactly is providing the service, where the tests are coming from, who implemented the measure, etc.

[kag]

34. Even though it is "drive-through"...

You still need a prescription from your doc to get it. And they still can't keep up with demand.


https://kdvr.com/news/coronavirus/colorado-health-officials-turn-people-away-from-drive-thru-covid-19-testing-as-state-struggles-to-meet-demand/

[Ms. Toad]

43. Looks like the state -

Colorado Department of Health and Environment.

It appears to be a way to avoid the problem we have in my county - doctors don't want the patients in their offices, so they are sending them to labs - who don't work directly with patients.

Patients need a doctor's note (so some advance screening) to be tested at the drive-through site. I don't know how the advance screening is taking place.

They are dependent on the the federal government for tests, apparently. (They had 900, and were expecting 1500 more by the end of this week.)

This is a decent article:

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/national/coronavirus/colorados-first-drive-up-covid-19-testing-facility-opens-in-denver-is-free-of-charge

[Maru Kitteh]

47. Thanks for that! I appreciate it -

I am an RN employed by the state, on an infection control team at a LTC facility for vets. I'm looking for any and all information I can pass up the chain that might give us an edge. To say I am concerned is akin to saying I dislike Trump. I'm chewing on antacids as we speak. Others are hoarding TP. I'm hoarding Tums.

[PA Democrat]

42. Yesterday Allegheny County Board of Health (PA) said they lacked proper protective gear

to take the samples. I believe that they said that the federal government will be downgrading the level of protective equipment required to get around the problem.

It's beyond a cluster f***.

BTW, thanks for the actual source.

[MiniMe]

50. Interesting. Around me, Quest and LabCorp are the 2 places we can go to get our blood drawn.

[Ms. Toad]

53. This reuqires a swab, I believe -

So that may be different. (I'm just reporting what my spouse learned at the Board of Health last night - she's a member of the local BOH)

[calimary]

55. Dayum!

And HE, too, has more money than you have, donald.

And evidently more horse sense. And definitely more compassion.

Seems to me THIS is what you do when you single-handedly have a ton on money. You’re way beyond wondering what to do with it to make more money - you already HAVE more money. There are just so many yachts, so many other businesses and big-ass real estate packages. At some point you may want to leave a different mark on the world than just your name on stuff. Seems to me that puts you in a unique position to DO something that makes a difference in the lives of many others way farther down the food chain from your lofty level.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is there. Frankly, so is Michael Bloomberg.

[rainin]

8. While the US pResident is plotting how to get rich off this crisis

He's plotting right now how to make money off masks, tests, etc. Ivanka is rushing through a trademark for a special CV masks and testing machines. They'll get a plant up and running and then funnel a billion dollars in taxpayer money into their company to buy masks for every man, woman, child, and pet and testing machines on every street corner. He'll be hailed as a savior for such decisive action, the delays will be forgotten or blamed on Obama. Taxpayers will pay for it, he'll get richer, and he'll still be the pResident.

I'm obviously depressed right now

[Iwasthere]

12. I'm right there with you

He is plotting the best angles to get the most bang for himself, from this pandemic. We will never know how rampant it is untill it's too late and 1/3 of the country is infected. I also do not believe Chinas numbers

[DENVERPOPS]

35. Amen to that

Did you notice he just put Jared in charge of the crisis??????????

Coming soon to a Trump Rally near you: MAGA imprinted face masks

Jared/and his "trump spawn" always have the best and most complete ideas on Trump Industry's Profiteering.

Next thing they will be telling people is how their MAGA hats are magical, and that there has not been a single case of one person wearing the hat to catch the Virus. So buy one, wear it 24/7, even in the shower and to bed at night......
In fact they should by two. One for around the house and a brand new one when they go out in public.

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. I'm sick to death of that Maggot.

[DENVERPOPS]

39. Exactly like Rumsfeld in 9/11 aftermath.

Rumsfeld buys millions in stock a certain drug company.

Three days later, Rumsfeld declares Anthrax? a major threat to the U.S. population.

He orders major stockpiles of Cipro, (the anti-biotic for Anthrax) to be warehoused across the U.S.

The price of the drug company that makes Cipro triples within a few days.

Rumsfeld immediately sold all his stock in that specific drug company when the price tripled.

[marble falls]

10. Its a good thing and a merest drop in the bucket. Good on Jack Ma, screw Trump.

[Bayard]

14. Where is he getting them from?

And why can't our government buy them?

[sinkingfeeling]

15. Maybe the Trumpsters won't use them since they're from China.

[rainin]

17. This might work better than the rapture

Masks for dems only, cause we're sheeple who believe in this beervirus hoax

[Baitball Blogger]

19. I'm very happy to hear this.

Almost makes up for the fact that our facemask supply was depleted by Chinese purchases earlier in the year. But those test! Yes. That is saintly.

[Marthe48]

20. so generous

I remember when the U.S. did things like this for other nations. The good old days

[leftyladyfrommo]

21. What a slap in Trump's face.

The ultimate insult.

[PatSeg]

22. This reinforces the fact that

this is a worldwide crisis and we are all in it together. We help ourselves by helping others. If in the meantime, it makes Trump look like a sorry-ass leader, so be it.

[wryter2000]

23. Trump won't let them in the country

Wonder what that will do to his popularity. The MAGATs will love it, of course.

[IronLionZion]

24. Another source saying testing kits

https://www.cnet.com/news/alibaba-co-founder-jack-ma-to-donate-500000-coronavirus-test-kits-to-us/

Link to tweet

[LAS14]

26. Where is getting 1 million masks??? nt

[58Sunliner]

27. Good for him. I was able to buy 2 boxes of masks today, surprisingly.

If you have an Aramsco in your area. They sell to account holders, but it does not require a resale license, just a company name.

[stopdiggin]

28. apparently a lot of readers are not getting that this is blatant irony

it's public shaming, folks! Loss of face.

Whether or not the materials ever show ... Doesn't really matter.

[lunasun]

56. I don t think it's fake

Link to tweet

?s=21

[stopdiggin]

57. didn't say it was fake. said it was a blatant dig at America

and possibly Trump. Read my final line

"Whether or not the materials ever show ... Doesn't really matter."

I'm still standing with that statement.

[Me.]

29. OUCH

But thankful for any port in a storm

[Harker]

30. When Trumpsky said, "anybody that wants a test can get a test"

he meant anybody that matters.

[Native]

33. They also sent a team of experts and a planeload of supplies to Italy. Check this out...

On March 12, China Eastern sent a new A350 aircraft to escort the Chinese Red Cross to Italy's anti-epidemic expert group of 9 medical experts and 31 tons of medical supplies (including ICU ward equipment, medical protective supplies, antiviral agents, etc.) from Shanghai Fly directly to Rome. Destiny is common, love knows no borders, Italy, come on!

This is the third team of experts sent by China after supporting Iran and Iraq.


https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_6470054
Note: You will have to translate this.

[Pepsidog]

36. Let's start calling it the Trump virus

[flibbitygiblets]

38. Many are calling it "Captain Trumps" after Stephen King's pandemic saga "The Stand"

[ancianita]

40. Trump: "Nice test kits you got there. Too bad if somethin' were to happen to 'em."

[angrychair]

41. Sad

This is what we are resorting to now, the "most powerful nation on earth" taking charity from a Chinese billionaire

[snort]

46. It's business.

We are a nation of 350 million customers and we buy tons of stuff from China. Can't have all of your customers dropping dead.

[mfcorey1]

49. I hope they send them to anybody except the government. The gov will hide

them and charge for use. Please let them go to hospitals.

[matt819]

51. Now there's a switcheroo

We baby boomers grew up being encouraged to eat everything on our plate because there were children starving in China. (Think about that for a sec. It makes no fucking sense.)

Now maybe they'll take up collections because there are children in American who can't get a coronvirus test because our government doesn't care and they cost too much for Americans.

[Crunchy Frog]

52. So it's come to this. Our country has become a charity case for the Chinese.

I'm not saying I'm not grateful, but it's a sad commentary on how far we've fallen.

Now will we actually be able to use the tests, or will the regime sabotage that in some way?

[MoonlitKnight]

54. Send some of those portable CT scanners too

They scan up to 200 people a day and it is very accurate showing a distinct pattern in the lungs.