State Sent Out Hundreds Of Ineffective Masks In Pandemic Chaos…The masks with valves were removed from the inventory of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency but somehow got back in.
Since March, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has tracked down $81.5 million worth of personal protective equipment and supplied it for free to recipients, including hospitals, state agencies, schools, elderly and child care facilities, medical or dental offices, nonprofits and small businesses.
But in the midst of the massive undertaking, HI-EMA sent out hundreds of respirators with exhalation valves — the type of mask that could actually do more harm than good by propelling the virus further.
