COLUMBUS — After calling the Food and Drug Administration "reckless," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine talked to President Donald Trump on a phone call early Sunday about mask-sterilizing technology and COVID-19 in Ohio.
"We had a good conversation," DeWine tweeted out Sunday morning.
I have just talked with @realDonaldTrump about this issue, and we had a good conversation. He understands the problem and says he will do everything he can to get this approved today. Thank you, @POTUS. https://t.co/iha2F2AXgv
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 29, 2020
DeWine and Trump spoke about the Columbus-based nonprofit Battelle Memorial Institute and their mask-sterilizing technology. Each device can reportedly sanitize 80,000 masks each day. If the FDA approves their use, Ohio will get two machines.
"The FDA's decision to severely limit the use of this life-saving technology is nothing short of reckless," DeWine wrote in a news release. "This is a matter of life and death. I am not only disappointed by this development, but I'm also stunned that the FDA would decline to do all it can to protect this country's frontline workers in this serious time of need."
Trump also took to Twitter Sunday morning about his call with DeWine, writing, "@FDA must move quickly!"
Highly recommended by Governor @MikeDeWine of Ohio. @FDA must move quickly! https://t.co/pLpI4CSs9H
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also tweeted about Battelle, taking a middle-ground stance.
"If Battelle’s technology for sterilizing face masks for re-use works safely, limiting it to only 10,000 a day is foolish," Yost wrote. "If it doesn’t, allowing it at all is reckless."
If Battelle’s technology for sterilizing face masks for re-use works safely, limiting it to only 10,000 a day is foolish.
If it doesn’t, allowing it at all is reckless.
Hoping @realDonaldTrump intervenes today — but if not, I’ve got my team researching a lawsuit for tomorrow.
— Dave Yost (@Yost4Ohio) March 29, 2020
It's not known what DeWine's Sunday update entails. However, DeWine said at his Saturday news conference there would not be a conference Sunday unless there was a major development with regards to COVID-19.
