Cuomo: States Now Bidding Against Each Other For Ventilators

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 2: New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference on the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New York on March 2, 2020 in New York City. A female health worker in her 30s who had traveled in Iran contracted the virus and is now isolated at home with symptoms of COVID-19, but is not in serious condition. Cuomo said in a statement that the patient "has been in a controlled situation since arriving to New York." (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

The war is supposed to be against the virus, not each other. But with supplies short, and the Trump administration not stepping up, the marketplace for medical equipment has become a free-for-all. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the bidding between the states is like being on Ebay.

"It's like being on eBay with 50 other states bidding on a ventilator…That's literally what we're doing." —@NYGovCuomo

Trump won't provide critical supplies, so states are bidding AGAINST each other for the things they need to keep people alive. His chaos is costing lives. pic.twitter.com/cS97ghrrSv
— CAP Action (@CAPAction) March 31, 2020

New York is now scouring the world, like everyone else, for precious ventilators.

Gov. Cuomo says New York state has ordered 17,000 ventilators from China at $25,000 a piece, but only has firm commitment to receive 2,500 over next few weeks due to distribution delays from China.

He says California, Illinois and other states are competing to buy the same item.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) March 31, 2020