The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable have formed a public-private partnership to get much-needed medical supplies and assistance to foreign countries hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, starting with India.

The Global Task Force on Pandemic Response was organized by the Chamber with support from BRT, according to a statement on the Chamber's website. The group brings together more than 40 corporations and nonprofit organizations to coordinate private-sector relief to areas of the world where the pandemic is straining public health systems.

Initial efforts will focus on India, with more than 400,000 cases reported on May 1 alone, the statement said. Those efforts include:

—1,000 Medtronic ventilators to be delivered to India starting May 5.

—25,000 oxygen concentrators scheduled to be delivered by end of May, with thousands already delivered.

—A network of human resources leaders offering practical guidance on supporting employees in India.

The task force expects to expand the number of countries receiving aid in the future. The group's steering committee "will work to concentrate efforts where corporate support will be most beneficial, with additional countries to be determined in consultation with the U.S. government," the statement said.

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