Esper: defence dept will provide respirators, ventilators

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday Pentagon will provide five million respirator masks and 2,000 specialized ventilators to federal heath authorities to help in response to coronavirus pandemic.

Esper said ventilators are designed for use by troops and military will need to train civilians on how to use m.

He said some may have "single-use" limitations. And he said first million respirator masks will be me available immediately.

U.S. health officials have expressed concern over short of ventilators.

Esper also said he has asked Navy to prepare hospital ships for deployment. He said Pentagon will also talk with state and local leers to see if re is any need for field hospitals.

He said field units could be used to take pressure off local hospitals, by locating m nearby and using m to perhaps treat trauma patients.

Doing so, he said, could free up hospital rooms so y could be used for infectious patients.

Pentagon has said its hospital ships and field units are designed for combat and have areas where multiple patients are toger in one room.

As a result, y aren't set up to handle patients who need isolation.

For most people, new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.