Britain said on Tuesday it had agreed deals with more than 100 new suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE) used to combat the spread of the coronavirus, addressing supply problems seen earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government has faced heavy criticism from health workers who said they were not always provided with the right equipment and did not feel safe. The government has acknowledged problems with distribution and sourcing sufficient supplies in a competitive international market.
“We have now ordered 2 billion pieces of PPE from homegrown firms, which is also great news for jobs and the economy, and over 3 billion pieces from abroad,” health minister Matt Hancock said in a statement. The deals, some of which had already been announced, include the purchase of 70 million face masks from Honeywell and 14,000 visors per week from Jaguar Land Rover.
The government said that since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, more than 1.48 billion items of PPE had been delivered to frontline health and care workers in England, along with tens of millions of items in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. At the government’s daily news conference earlier on Tuesday, Hancock said the new supply lines would also allow the government to replenish its PPE stockpiles.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Feds charge used car salesman and 'the Mask Man' in COVID-19 schemesNEW: US federal prosecutors have charged 2 men, a used car salesman and a pharmacist who dubbed himself “the Mask Man,” in separate schemes to inflate the prices of personal protective equipment used to guard against COVID-19.
Read more »
Doctors face pay cuts, furloughs and supply shortages as coronavirus pushes primary care to the brinkShrinking and disappearing doctors' offices could trigger public health crises as sick patients go untreated and children do not receive important vaccines.
Read more »
HHS watchdog Christi Grimm defends coronavirus report on PPE shortages criticized by TrumpChristi Grimm&39;s office released a report on April 6 detailing medical supply shortages and testing delays at hospitals.
Read more »
Celebs including Geri Horner and Gary Linker will become teachers in new showA number of stars are going to turn teachers in new BBC series Celebrity Supply Teacher
Read more »
Premier Takes Stake in Mask Maker Prestige AmeritechHospital-supply buyer Premier strikes a multiyear deal with mask maker Prestige Ameritech. “The pandemic shined a light on some of the constrictions of the supply chain,” Premier's president said.
Read more »
Google will reimburse up to $1,000 for employees to buy work-from-home gearGoogle employees will receive a $1,000 allowance to buy equipment that will help them work from home, as the company prepares to open facilities more widely starting in July.
Read more »