U.S. calls on construction companies to donate face masks

The Trump administration on Tuesday called on U.S. construction companies to donate their respirator masks to hospitals and other health care providers combating the coronavirus outbreak amid a nationwide shortage.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence made the request at a news conference at the White House. The administration recently allowed healthcare workers to use so-called N95 face masks not specifically approved for medical use to treat patients amid the outbreak.