Shipping delays could be caused by high demand for face masks.
Although his company has enough inventory to meet demand for now, supply chain disruptions could interfere with how soon Americans get their masks.
Lloyd Armbrust, president of The American Mask Manufacturer's Association, said US mask makers are better suited to meet demand because they don't rely on as many foreign shipments. Armbrust American is vertically integrated and hasn't dealt with product delays.
Americans will likely have to wait longer to receive their face masks because of the supply chain disruptions.
Armbrust told Insider that people burn themselves out to get everything out before Christmas. Christmas is over. The backup starts now.
The highly transmissible Omicron variant is one of the reasons for the increase in new COVID-19 cases this month. Omicron cases will peak in January, according to some scientists.
Demand for rapid tests has gone up because of the rise of cases. Retailers like Walgreens and CVS have set limits on the amount of tests that can be given to customers.
A lack of truck drivers and port congestion are some of the factors that have disrupted the global supply chain this year. There are shortages for products like diapers and cars.
Armbrust said that the rise in demand for masks stems from better data that supports wearing surgical masks or N95 masks over cloth ones. A cloth mask won't offer much protection against the Omicron variant, according to Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst.
Armbrust said that masks produced in other countries may not meet American quality standards, and that it may take longer to get cheaper masks from overseas.
If consumers can pay an extra price for domestic products, American mask manufacturers will be able to meet high demand.
There's more than enough supply in the United States that can help take up any shortfall that may be coming from overseas.
