AP: States Spent over $7B Competing for Early Virus Supplies 1490wosh.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 1490wosh.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
AP investigation: States spent over $7 billion competing for early virus supplies
Associated Press
Updated on:Dec 19, 2020, 11:14am EST
Ray Bellia had a good business before the coronavirus pandemic. He topped $4 million in annual sales from his New Hampshire store that specialized in protective gear for police.
Then he got a call from a buyer with the state of Massachusetts asking if he had anything that could protect people from COVID-19. As it happened, he did. He went on to sell the state 300,000 disposable masks for 97 cents each.
“From that point on, it’s been just insanity,” Bellia said.
Masks. Gowns. Gloves. Goggles. Sanitizer. Coveralls. Thermometers. Bellia has sold it all, and not just to Massachusetts. From Maine to Hawaii, numerous other states, counties, cities, colleges and schools have lined up to buy from him.
Ray Bellia had a good business before the coronavirus pandemic. He topped $4 million in annual sales from his New Hampshire store that specialized in protective gear for police.
Then he got a call from a buyer with the state of Massachusetts asking if he had anything that could protect people from COVID-19. As it happened, he did. He went on to sell the state 300,000 disposable masks for 97 cents each.
“From that point on, it’s been just insanity,” Bellia said.
Masks. Gowns. Gloves. Goggles. Sanitizer. Coveralls. Thermometers. Bellia has sold it all, and not just to Massachusetts. From Maine to Hawaii, numerous other states, counties, cities, colleges and schools have lined up to buy from him.
States Spent Over $7 Billion Fighting For Early Virus Supplies
Some governors described the early PPE marketplace as the Wild West, where supplies simply went to the highest bidder.
David A. Lieb and Camille Fassett
Ray Bellia had a good business before the coronavirus pandemic. He topped $4 million in annual sales from his New Hampshire store that specialized in protective gear for police.
Then he got a call from a buyer with the state of Massachusetts asking if he had anything that could protect people from COVID-19. As it happened, he did. He went on to sell the state 300,000 disposable masks for 97 cents each.
States spent over $7 billion competing for early COVID-19 supplies marketwatch.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from marketwatch.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.