Ohio Gov. Blasts FDA's Limits On Coronavirus Mask Sterilizations

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine blasted federal officials with the Food and Drug Administration on Sunday after they officially limited an Ohio company's ability to mass-sterilize surgical masks that could be reused by frontline health care workers in the midst of the new coronavirus public health emergency.

The governor said Ohio-based tech company Battelle developed the breakthrough, which now allows previously-used surgical masks to be sterilized and reused in the field.

"We have nurses, doctors, and others who need these masks. We would be able to sterilize 160,000 per day. This is a matter of life and death. We need to protect or people who are risking their lives," DeWine said in a Saturday press conference pleading with the FDA to approve the mass-sterilization effort.

Don't miss the latest updates from health and government officials in Ohio on the coronavirus. Sign up for Patch newsletters and news alerts.

On Sunday, DeWine said he and Lieutenant Gov. Jon Husted received disappointing news: the FDA authorized Columbus-based Battelle to sterilize only 10,000 surgical masks in Ohio each day, "despite their ability to sterilize up to 160,000 masks per day in Ohio alone."

DeWine blasted the FDA, calling the decision "reckless" as his state grapples with mounting COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths. As of Sunday morning, Ohio has seen 1,406 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 344 hospitalization, 123 ICU admissions and 25 deaths. Six Ohioans died due to complications from COVID-19 between Friday and Saturday afternoon, the state health department announced.

"The FDA's decision to severely limit the use of this life-saving technology is nothing short of reckless," DeWine said in a statement Sunday morning. "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."

DeWine says the FDA's imposed limit of 10,000 masks per day is limited to Battelle's Columbus headquarters, and prevents Battelle from sending its technology to other states such Washington and New York, as well as Washington D.C. and the Virginia/Maryland areas.

DeWine said Sunday he will continue fighting for increased use of this life-saving technology.