A medical products company confirmed the destruction of a limited number of specialized swabs for coronavirus testing because of President Donald Trump's visit. But that was the plan all along, the company said.
Puritan Medical Products had a limited production run on Friday to provide a demonstration for the president and his entourage. The company discarded those swabs after the visit, officials said.
Normal production that day was shifted to the weekend so weekly output was unaffected, the company said. The facility was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after the president's visit, it said.
The company also noted that all of its swabs are sterilized after production as part of the normal process.
"We were glad to have the opportunity for our role in addressing the global health pandemic be recognized by the president and other senior government officials," the company said.
Puritan is in the process of doubling production with federal assistance to ensure an adequate supply of the swabs as the nation ramps up testing for the new coronavirus.
Maine had recorded more than 2,600 cases of the virus and 100 deaths as of Tuesday, state officials said.
