DeWine expects FDA to approve sterilization of N-95 masks to full capacity
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Governor Mike DeWine reported a continued rise in Ohio's coronavirus cases with confirmed numbers now reaching 1,653 and stressed the importance of sanitizing and producing protective masks for medical personnel
Confirmed COVID-19 cases reached in 84 Mahoning County, 39 cases in Trumbull and 11 cases in Columbiana with no new deaths being reported.
A full breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Ohio can be found on the state's web site, coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted also expressed deep disappointment earlier Sunday in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to limit the use of new machine technology to sterilize desperately-needed surgical masks in Ohio and other parts of the United States.
"We do not have enough masks," said Gov. DeWine.
The FDA has authorized Columbus-based Battelle to sterilize only 10,000 surgical masks in Ohio each day, despite Battelle's ability to sterilize up to 160,000 masks per day in Ohio alone.
Governor DeWine said in his press conference Sunday that himself along with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted have been in contact with the FDA about expanding sterilization numbers.
"These machines will not solve every problem we have but they can certainly help," said Gov. Dewine.
The authorization of 10,000 masks per day is limited to Battelle's Columbus headquarters and prevents Battelle from sending its groundbreaking technology to other states such Washington and New York, as well as Washington D.C. and the Virginia/Maryland areas.
DeWine said there are currently two machines in Ohio that can sanitize masks.
"This needs to be approved today," said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. "Gov. Dewine is absolutely determined this will happen today."
"A commissioner from the FDA assured me this would be done today. I'm cautiously optimistic," DeWine said.
The cautious optimism could soon payoff, in a recent tweet, the governor expects good news soon.
President Trump also called for approval in expanding mask sterilization in a tweet Sunday:
In the press conference, DeWine was also joined by the CEO of Battelle, Lew Von Thaer, via video call.
Von Thaer said one of these sterilization machines is currently in New York with another on the way.
Systems are also en route to Seattle with plans to send units to Chicago and Washington D.C shortly.
Von Thaer said Battelle can build around two of these sterilization systems per week.
The Battelle sterilization system uses a hydrogen peroxide system to clean used protective N95 facemasks.
Hydrogen peroxide vapor is used to clean the masks for a period of several hours.
Hospitals will collect the masks, wrap the masks in plastic then wipe down the packaging with alcohol to ensure no outside contamination.
Technicians operating the sterilization machines will load masks into storage containers that are under pressure with the peroxide solution for cleaning.
The cleaning process takes a few hours Von Ther said.
Maks are then repackaged and sent back to the same hospitals.
Von Ther said each mask can be cleaned and reused up to 20 times.
