Ford Motor Corporation in its latest announcement says it is teaming up with General Electric health care unit to make 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan.
The companies say after that, they can produce 30,000 per month to treat patients afflicted with the Coronavirus.
Ford says the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity.
Hospitals in New York already are using one ventilator to sustain two patients. New Orleans has a fraction of the ventilators it needs for a surge of COVID-19 patients.
Ford officials say workers will be stationed a safe distance apart from one another and will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the plant.
