Elon Musk | Getty Images
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been raising concerns for weeks about an impending ventilator shortage as coronavirus rapidly spreads throughout the city. Now, he’s turning to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for help.
“New York City is buying! Our country is facing a drastic shortage and we need ventilators ASAP — we will need thousands in this city over the next few weeks,” de Blasio said in a tweet Thursday to Musk. “We’re getting them as fast as we can but we could use your help! We’re reaching out to you directly.“
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The plea comes after Musk said on Twitter late Wednesday that he would “make ventilators if there is a shortage.”
Musk has downplayed the risks of coronavirus, stating the “danger of panic still far exceeds danger of [the virus] [in my opinion].” However, Musk said his companies could play a role in producing ventilators.
“Tesla makes cars with sophisticated hvac systems. SpaceX makes spacecraft with life support systems,” Musk said. “Ventilators are not difficult, but cannot be produced instantly.“
There were 1,871 cases of coronavirus in New York City as of Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Musk did not immediately return a request for comment.
