Supply chain industry trade groups are warning of a "system collapse" if governments don't step in.
Here are seven supply chain updates from the past two weeks:
1. Throughout the pandemic, hospitals across the U.S. have spent more than $3 billion to source personal protective equipment, according to an analysis conducted by Premier.
2. Boston Scientific entered a definitive agreement to acquire Baylis Medical for $1.75 billion.
3. DeRoyal Industries recalled 2,856 procedure packs that contain an irrigation warming set that may leak aluminum.
4. The U.S. supply of rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests is set to quadruple by December.
5. Inflation surged in recent months because of pandemic-related pressures, including such supply chain issues as shipping trouble and a strong demand for goods from Asia.
6. Norco, a regional supplier of medical oxygen based in Boise, Idaho, sent a notice to hospitals that oxygen is being used at "astounding rates" and asked the hospitals to conserve oxygen supplies when possible.
7. Supply chain industry trade groups warned of a "global transport system collapse" if governments don't restore freedom of movement to transport workers in an open letter sent to heads of state attending the United Nations General Assembly.