Vendor refusing to refund Missouri for deficient masks
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
One of three vendors who sold what state officials said were deficient face masks is refusing to give back more than $8 million spent on the purchase, Missouri's public safety director said Friday.
Director Sandy Karsten gave details about the state's efforts to get its money back for KN95 masks ordered this month that did not meet standards during Gov. Mike Parson's daily COVID-19 briefing Friday. The state on Monday announced it had recalled 48,000 of the masks that had already gone to local agencies.
The state purchased millions of the masks but did not receive all the masks and paid millions of dollars toward the purchases, Karsten said.
The first vendor, from which the state ordered 360,000 masks at a price of $1.1 million, refunded the total amount. The state ordered 5 million masks from another vendor and paid about $8.25 million in advance. The masks were not delivered and the vendor canceled the order and refunded the full payment, Karsten said.
The third vendor, from which the state purchased 3.9 million masks at a cost of more than $16.5 million, is refusing to refund the 50 percent deposit the state paid on the masks, she said.
Kasten reiterated Friday that pending litigation prevents her from discussing some details of the purchases.
"We will do everything in our power to recoup the money, which went towards the masks that were not up to the standards, and did not provide the protection our first responders and medical professionals deserve for the high-risk work they are performing," Karsten said.
She said the state expected Friday to receive more face shields and medical gowns to distribute to local agencies and health care providers.
Parson spoke about his plan to reopen Missouri businesses after a stay-at-home order expires May 3.
"We are seeing signs in the data that Missouri is beginning to slow the course of COVID-19," Parson said. "We are seeing improvements across the state. If good social distancing continues, we will reopen the economy and get Missouri back to work."
Dr. Randall Williams, head of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said the state plans to use antibody testing in limited capacity at some point. The test was just authorized Friday, he said.
The testing shows whether someone has been previously infected with novel coronavirus and can help identify those who have immunity.
Williams said such testing will be used on first responders and some other populations.
On Friday, COVID-19 inreased for at least the 26th day in a row. Positive cases went up to 5,283 from 5,111 reported on Wednesday.
