BY MANDY ROTH | MARCH 18, 2020
Trump administration asks providers to preserve medical supplies in the fight against COVID-19.
The federal government is stepping up pressure on hospitals and other providers to cancel all elective medical and dental procedures. 
At a midday briefing today, Vice President Mike Pence said the action was needed to preserve medical supplies and resources for the fight against COVID-19.
“We’re asking every American, and our medical community leaders, and hospitals to partner with us and [delay] elective procedures across the country and our healthcare system to ensure that medical supplies and medical capacity go where they’re needed,” said Pence, who leads administration’s Coronavirus Task Force.