Almost All Medical Gowns in U.S. Stockpile Removed for Retesting

The U.S. medical stockpile has removed 25 million out of 26 million isolation gowns from its inventory while experts determine if they adequately protect health workers.

The decision to pull the gowns for further testing follows concerns raised over the government’s contracting processes and safety of personal protective gear critical for workers on the front lines of the pandemic. If workers wear a gown without the correct level of protection for a procedure, it puts them at risk of exposure to a virus like the one that causes Covid-19.

The Department of Health and Human Services is looking to validate ...