3 million masks arrive in California as part of quiet deal with Chinese company

Sources report a confidential deal has been struck between a company from China and California Governor, Gavin Newsom. The first shipment of the delivery arrived last weekend.

Sources report that the agreement is for 3 million face masks and would cost around $1 billion for the taxpayers of California.

The supplier company is mentioned as BYD. The company is best known for manufacturing electric cars. They also have an outlet in L.A. 

Newsom, in an interview, said that all the products were immediately distributed to around 18 locations. He also said that the faster the masks come in, the quicker they will be distributed. 

The agreement, reportedly, is for around 200 million masks, which the company will deliver by the end of June. The protective gears that arrived last weekend were mostly surgical masks. Newsom and his office expect other shipments with N95 masks

The details of the contract have not been revealed yet. Even Legislative members are in the dark with regard to the price of each individual mask. Inquiries by The Times have been shot down by Newsom’s Office of Emergency Services. 

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have expressed criticism over the BYD agreement’s secrecy. 

Director of Newsom’s Office of Emergency Services, Mark Ghilarducci, applauded the move and said that the deal was especially beneficial as the company was based in California. 

Officials emphasized that the products that were to arrive would be first checked by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

On Wednesday, a spokesman for BYD said that the first delivery was made before the scheduled time, and the certification would arrive before the week comes to an end.  

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, announced on Tuesday, a deal for 24 million N95 masks made with Honeywell, a manufacturer from North Carolina.

Los Angeles recently became the first city to provide free testing to all its residents. 

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