Elon Musk is joining other billionaires around the world in contributing to the fight against the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Instead of giving out millions of dollars to foundations and organizations, Musk is utilizing the capabilities of his companies to contribute necessary equipment meant to save lives.

The Tesla Inc CEO announced on social media on Tuesday that his company will be giving out FDA-approved ventilators to medical facilities that need the life-saving devices. Musk clarified that the shipping of the ventilators will be free of cost to hospitals and devices will also be given away free of charge.

Musk explicitly mentioned in his post that his company will only be delivering ventilators to hospitals and facilities with an immediate need for the devices. He added that he does not want the ventilators to be stored in a warehouse or be used as backups.

Both Tesla and Musk did not immediately specify how many units of the much-needed medical devices will be given away nor did they outline how they will be prioritizing requests made by hospitals and organizations.

Last week, Tesla had stated that it had ordered more than 1,200 surplus ventilators from China and is having them shipped to the country by air. California also confirmed last week that Musk had donated more than 1,000 ventilators to the state, which was one of the early epicenters for the virus in the country.

The move to provide ventilators to frontline facilities comes as the US government scrambles to have automakers and aerospace companies assist in the production and procurement of anti-epidemic medical supplies such as ventilators, facemasks, gloves, and other personal protection equipments (PPEs).

With the spread of the virus in the US continually accelerating, now exceeding more than 180,000 confirmed cases, medical supplies are quickly running out. Hospitals across the nation, particularly in heavy hit cities such as New York, are struggling to cope with the influx of new patients. The lack of PPEs and other medical equipment is exacerbating the problem as more medical personnel get infected with the virus.

Several states have already pleaded with the Trump administration to find ways to speed up the production of ventilators and PPEs to meet the growing demand. Trump has managed to push General Motors and Ford to manufacture more ventilators.

Ford announced earlier in the week that it should be able to produce more than 50,000 ventilators within the next 100 days using its manufacturing plant in Michigan. The company will be assisted by General Electric's healthcare unit to retrofit its facility.