Keyworkers who have been heavily exposed to people with coronavirus over the last few weeks have received more than a billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE).
According to the Department of Health and Social Care, frontline staff have been given a huge amount of equipment, including face masks and gloves, in order to protect them from contracting the potentially fatal virus.
However, it added that millions more are expected to be handed out over the next few months, with the government encouraging businesses to use their manufacturing or procurement capabilities to provide PPE in the country’s time of need.
Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said: “In continuing to tackle this global pandemic we outlined the need for a great national effort to ensure our frontline NHS and social care continue to have all the equipment they need.”
He added: “We are now working with over 1,000 businesses and establishing a British manufacturing base, which will see tens of millions of extra items of PPE delivered to the frontline in the coming weeks alone.”
Many companies have been contracted to provide 25 million PPE items, as well as 12 million square metres of PPE fabric to make gowns, aprons and gloves.
Demand for PPE is set to soar after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a gradual lifting of lockdown, encouraging more people to return to work.
While PPE will be provided to frontline staff first, those who are likely to come into contact with the public regularly while at work, such as retail staff, bus drivers and cleaners, will also benefit from wearing protective equipment.
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