<span style="color: #222222;">US President Donald Trump has said that he would invoke the Defence Production Act to increase production of ventilators and masks. He said that the Act is needed to accelerate medical equipment production to battle the COVID – 19 pandemic.<br />'' <br />'' Hospitals and health workers in cities and states across the US are facing a shortage of ventilators, face masks, diagnostic testing supplies and other equipment.<br />'' <br />'' Invoking the Act would require manufacturers to prioritise federal government contracts for such equipment over other orders.</span><br />''  <br />