Dan Izhaky is betting $4 million that the pandemic will change what Americans are willing to pay for high quality face masks from his new factory here in this suburb of Los Angeles.Before COVID-19 hit, the United States imported much of the personal protection equipment needed by healthcare providers, mainly from Asia. Some US companies pivoted in the crisis, such as liquor companies churning out hand sanitizer and plastics firms making face shields.
"The big question we face is what happens post-pandemic," said Izhaky,"when you have a hospital administrator or whoever it is that's in charge of purchasing" and looking at US-made masks that cost more.
"But there's always a risk," said Sanford. He adds there are ways the government can support businesses like this, short of giving direct government contracts to purchase goods at higher prices. A requirement to buy US-made protective equipment could be built into Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, for instance.