COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--Both Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and President Donald Trump went to bat for Battelle on Sunday, after the FDA approved them for sanitizing only a fraction of the surgical masks that they are capable of cleaning.
The Columbus-based medical technology firm developed a system to sanitize surgical masks, in an effort to help doctors and nurses who are treating patients with Coronavirus. Battelle has the capability to sanitize over 80,000 masks a day.
The Food and Drug Administration originally approved Battelle to sanitize 10,000 masks a day.
That prompted a tweet from President Trump, and a Sunday press conference from DeWine, where he mentioned he called Trump about the issue.
Late Sunday, the FDA expanded their order for Battelle to sanitize 80,000 masks per day.
The machines are heading to New York, Washington DC, and Seattle. Battelle is also working on technology to disinfect other protective equipment.
(photo courtesy Getty Images)