DeWine 'stunned' FDA limiting Ohio company's mask-sterilization technology

[babylonsister]

DeWine 'stunned' FDA limiting Ohio company's mask-sterilization technology
10TV Web Staff
Published: about an hour ago
Updated: 5 minutes ago


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted say they are disappointed in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision to limit the use of an Ohio company's new technology to sterilize much-needed surgical masks.

The FDA has authorized Columbus-based Battelle to sterilize only 10,000 surgical masks in Ohio each day, though the company can sterilize up to 160,000 masks daily in Ohio alone.

"The FDA's decision to severely limit the use of this life-saving technology is nothing short of reckless," DeWine said in a statement emailed to 10TV. "Battelle's innovative technology has the capability to protect healthcare professionals and first responders in Ohio and across the country, but in this time of crisis, the FDA has decided not to support those who are risking their lives to save others. This is a matter of life and death. I am not only disappointed by this development, but I'm also stunned that the FDA would decline to do all it can to protect this country's frontline workers in this serious time of need."

The allowance of the sterilization of 10,000 masks per day is limited to Battelle's Columbus headquarters. The company is not allowed to send its sterilization technology to other states.

more...

https://www.10tv.com/article/dewine-stunned-fda-limiting-ohio-companys-mask-sterilization-technology-2020-mar

[C_U_L8R]

1. Obviously, they didn't pay off the right Trumps yet.

[Leghorn21]

2. Yeah, I'm stunned too because what the living hell kind of sense does this make

This just looks like the willful, purposeful destruction of human beings and yeah, it’s fkn stunning

[Guilded Lilly]

3. This is beyond incompetence or disappointment. It is soulless. n/t

[SheltieLover]

4. Premeditated Murder!

LOCK THEM UP!

[Freethinker65]

5. Evidently Trump gets way more money from companies profiting by keeping masks disposable

If you cannot sterilize the masks, you need to buy more disposable ones..

It is all about the money and who gets to make it in Trump's economy. It has little to do with helping medical personnel and hospitals and saving American lives.

[llmart]

6. DeWine is most likely on the Dump's enemies list now.

People in Ohio are singing DeWine's praises for his handling of the crisis and rightfully so. He's been outstanding. However, Trump will not be upstaged even if it's another Republican.

I'm originally from Ohio and from a long line of Democrats and my family is all thoroughly impressed with DeWine.

[drmeow]

7. The process they want approved

has only gone through early phase testing.

As far as I can tell, this has never been tested on humans (i.e., with people using the masks). I suspect that one of the concerns is whether the process leaves any residue on the masks which health care workers would then be inhaling directly into their lungs. The process uses Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor (HPV) to decontaminate the masks. The FDA probably approved 10,000 initially to make sure there are not any short term disastrous effects on the people using the masks.

[Merlot]

10. A false sense of security would be the worst case scenario

Sending out masks that they think are sterile but aren't would have be a catastrophe. Masks are disposable for a reason. Would anyone want to use sterilized diapers?

[drmeow]

11. That may be part of it

The tests were on (I believe) a bacteria, not a virus, so I'm assuming that what they asked to be approved was some new tests on a virus (or maybe not - again, we don't have enough data to say). The process was pretty damn effective on bacteria. It did destroy the elastic after about 30 cycles. I do not know how many cycles it took to decon the masks.

I know it is hard to trust anyone associated with the government right now but I've met people who work for the FDA and I work with someone who works with the FDA - the rank and file are like the rank and file at the CDC. This was probably a very difficult decision for them to make because they are fully aware of how significant this could be. Although not in as horrible a situation as the MDs, they are in a pretty horrible situation. If they say "clean as many as you want" and it turns out the process is toxic to the people using the masks, they've killed a bunch of people. If they say "clean a limited number to make sure it isn't toxic" and it is not then they've potentially killed a bunch of patients for seemingly no good reason. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Maeve]

14. Um...yeah, we've used sterilized diapers before

Cloth, that we washed, dried and reused. While I can see your point, try a different example.

[customerserviceguy]

16. Some folks

don't know there was an era that we didn't have Pampers. Good catch on this one, Maeve.

[Happy Hoosier]

8. WHY!? To ensure campiness that make the equipment....

Have their windfall profits maintained? To make sure those who hoarded PPE reap their profits!?

[blueinredohio]

9. Maybe DeSwine will figure out his great republican party isn't as great as he thought.

[Hoyt]

12. Has the FDA responded? Maybe they have legitimate reason to believe company can't handle that many.

[hatrack]

13. Well, shit, Mike - your party, your president, your administration . . .

What did you expect? Or isn't Anusmouth taking your calls anymore?

[I_UndergroundPanther]

15. There will come a time

When we as people need to disobey the corrupt fda. The ones restricting help and tell them to fuck off and stand United against fucking traitor trump.

We do not need assholes standing in the way,interfering,and stopping things that will save lies.

The govt has been poisoned by trump.