[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 51 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 15049-15050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05580]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 51 / Monday, March 16, 2020 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 15049]]


                Memorandum of March 11, 2020

                
Making General Use Respirators Available

                Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services [and] the Secretary of Labor

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

                It is the policy of the United States to take proactive 
                measures to prepare for and respond to public health 
                threats, including the public health emergency 
                involving Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which 
                was declared by the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services on February 4, 2020, pursuant to section 564 
                of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
                360bbb-3). We must ensure that our healthcare providers 
                have full access to the products they need. On March 
                10, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                took action by issuing a declaration pursuant to 
                section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
                U.S.C. 247d-6d), which will help bring products 
                necessary for addressing the epidemic to healthcare 
                providers across the Nation. Unfortunately, at present, 
                public health experts anticipate shortages in the 
                supply of personal respiratory devices (respirators) 
                available for use by healthcare workers in mitigating 
                further transmission of COVID-19.

                To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Secretary 
                of Health and Human Services shall take all appropriate 
                and necessary steps with respect to general use 
                respirators to facilitate their emergency use by 
                healthcare personnel in healthcare facilities and 
                elsewhere, including under the authorities granted by 
                section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
                U.S.C. 247d-6d) and section 564 of the Federal Food, 
                Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3). 
                Additionally, the Secretary of Labor shall consider all 
                appropriate and necessary steps to increase the 
                availability of respirators.

[[Page 15050]]

                The Secretary of Health and Human Services is 
                authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in 
                the Federal Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, March 11, 2020

[FR Doc. 2020-05580
Filed 3-13-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4150-42-P