Federal government sends ventilators to Florida as DeSantis says he's unaware of shipment

By Kaitlan Collins and Devan Cole, CNN

Updated 11:37 PM ET, Wed August 11, 2021

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The Biden administration sent hundreds of ventilators to Florida in recent days as the state responds to a dramatic new increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations, an official from the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to CNN. But Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis claims he's unaware of the shipment.

A health administration official confirms the Strategic National Stockpile sent 200 ventilators and 100 high-flow nasal cannula kits to the state of Florida "earlier this week." The SNS sends equipment when it receives requests from states and their health departments, according to the official. Despite that, DeSantis told reporters Tuesday that he was unaware of the request for the medical supplies.