South Korean shipment to up Maryland virus tests by 500K

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland has dramatically boosted its testing capacity for the new coronavirus with a shipment of 500,000 tests from a South Korean company, the state's governor announced Monday, noting his Korean-born wife played a major role in championing the $9 million purchase.

As states have scoured the world for testing supplies, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said he asked wife Yumi Hogan on March 28 to help negotiate the purchase, tapping into the goodwill she has sought to foster between the state and South Korea. Hogan said 22 days of negotiations led to the shipment's delivery on Saturday by air.

He called the shipment “an exponential, game-changing, step forward," in increased testing capacity — which has been a huge challenge in the U.S. for states like Maryland, near the nation's capital. The governor noted that President Donald Trump had told state officials the states need to lead on boosting their testing capacity.

“The administration made it clear over and over again. They want the states to take the lead, and we have to go out and do it ourselves, and so that’s exactly what we did,” Hogan said at the news conference, flanked by the first lady.

The purchase was cited at Monday's press briefing at the White House, with President Donald Trump opining that he didn't believe it was necessary. Administration officials have been pushing governors to step up testing, while some governors have said that testing infrastructure is inadequate.

Vice President Mike Pence said he didn’t know when Hogan placed the order: “I wouldn’t begrudge him or his health officials for ordering tests,” he said.

However, Pence stressed that National Institutes of Health and Defense Department facilities in Maryland were also at the state’s disposal to...