Louisiana Shopped the Globe for Protective Gear in Pandemic

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana sent tens of millions of dollars to companies around the country, and as far away as China, for masks, gloves and ventilators in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than half was steered toward face coverings. A nationwide Associated Press review of data documenting purchases of protective gear and medical devices related to the virus shows Louisiana sometimes overpaid compared to other states for the same equipment.

One company that consistently sold Louisiana items at higher prices than other vendors has ties to former Louisiana State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson.

(Story written by Melinda Deslatte/AP)