(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)WASHINGTON U.S. officials are invoking a rarely used provision of American law that would shield companies from antitrust regulations to help the country from again running out of medical supplies in a pandemic. The government began formal discussions Thursday with private industry officials and representatives on a cooperative five-year agreement to ensure future supplies of protective materials, medical equipment, medicine and vaccines. There was widespread recognition that U.S. supplies of critical equipment, much of which is now manufactured overseas, were insufficient at the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Legislation in Congress would require the Department of Homeland Security to increase the amount of personal protective equipment it buys from American companies. Under the voluntary agreement, the government would work out a plan for future large-scale acquisitions with suppliers, manufacturers and distributors.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A group of University of Miami medical students is trying to do their part to help South Florida hospitals in the battle against COVID-19, the contagious respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. The UM the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine students’ Miami Med Covid Help program started with 20 volunteers and has grown to about 100. “We came together in the student body to see how we could help," Ohringer said. WHERE TO GOStudents ask donors to practice social distancing on Sunday. The students will get the donations out of your trunk.