One of the many fears during the coronavirus crisis is a large number of sick people requiring hospitalization. Not only are there not enough beds, but the stocks of life-saving equipment couldn’t meet the demand.

When asked on Twitter what he would do to help, Elon Musk replied, “We will make ventilators if there is a shortage”.

Musk notes that “Tesla makes cars with sophisticated hvac systems. SpaceX makes spacecraft with life support systems,” so it can be done with little difficulty, “but cannot be produced instantly”.

Doing his part, FiveThirtyEight editor in chief Nate Silver then asked health professionals to let him and Musk know where shortages exist.