BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On a Thursday conference call, Governor Baker told President Trump that Massachusetts can't buy coronavirus relief supplies because the state is losing out bids to the federal government.
“We took very seriously the push that you made previously on one of these calls, that we should not just rely on the stockpile and that we should go out and buy stuff and put in orders and try to create pressure on manufacturers and distributors,” Baker told the President. “On three big orders we lost to the feds.”
Baker: Massachusetts Aiming For 3,500 Coronavirus Tests Per Day
If somebody has a chance to sell to you or has the chance to sell to me that I'm going to lose every one of those," Baker said.
President Trump applauded the state's efforts, and suggested a price difference was at play. "We do like you going out seeing what you can get, if you can get it faster, and price is always a component of that," the president said. "Maybe that's why you lost to the feds, I'll tell you that's probably why."
On Wednesday, Trump granted the federal government the ability to influence production of coronavirus supplies in order to fill shortages across the country.
After touring a testing facility in Marlboro on Thursday, Baker said the state aims to test 3,500 people per day by next week. The state currently has 328 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
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