The U.S. federal government 's health inspectors surveyed 323 hospitals in late March ; reporting `` severe shortages '' of test supplies , `` widespread shortages '' of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , and other strained resources due to extended patient stays while awaiting test results .
In late March , the U.S. federal government 's health inspectors reported a shortage of test supplies , PPEs , and other resources in more than 320 surveyed hospitals due to the patients staying in them until receiving test results for the 2019-20 coronavirus .