So what does the federal government do? I don't believe they did nothing. Even Trump send 200 ventilators to New York.
most hospitals are themselves starved of materials. my girlfriends sister works in healthcare in a german hospital, they are constructing their shields and masks themselves because there is nothing left. basically it is "if you don´t have symptoms you can go ahead and work". tell that someone who had cancer a few years ago and is already immune system compromised..
it is baffling that western countries were not prepared for a situaton like this