MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Ever since the coronavirus, or COVID-19 outbreak, 3M says it has upped it's production of masks and respirators at it factories around the world.
Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence will meet with 3M CEO Mike Roman to talk about supply chain issues.
Last month, KARE 11 News spoke with Nikki McCullough, a global safety leader for 3M. She said: "We are making more respirators than we've ever made, but the demand is still higher than we are able to make right now. We expect demand to outpace supply for the foreseeable future."
The company is working with governments and public health officials amid the outbreak.
Spokespeople for 3M said while there may be periodic shortages of the masks and respirators, they are working 24-7 to fulfill demand as best as possible.
As for the general public, the CDC doesn't recommend the routine use of face masks in the community.
The Surgeon General is strongly urging people to stop buying masks because he says they won't protect you from getting sick.