Keeping Covid-19 deaths below 20,000 would be a good result, says NHS medical director Stephen Powis who says 170million masks, 25million gloves and 30million aprons have been delivered to medical staff fighting virus
- Stephen Powis told conference less than 20,000 deaths would be a good result
- He said that getting protective equipment to NHS staff was an ‘absolute priority’
- Some 170million of the ‘very highest level masks’ have been dispatched
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The United Kingdom will have done well if it comes through the coronavirus crisis with fewer than 20,000 deaths said the national medical director of the NHS.
When asked if he hoped that the United Kingdom was not on the same trajectory as countries such as Italy, Stephen Powis said: ‘If we can keep deaths below 20,000 we will have done very well in this epidemic.’
‘If it is less than 20,000… that would be a good result though every death is a tragedy, but we should not be complacent about that,’ said Powis, speaking at a news conference in Downing Street alongside Business Secretary Alok Sharma.
He said the NHS had been working incredibly hard to increase the intensive care capacity beyond the 4,000 beds it typically had.
The United Kingdom will have done well if it comes through the coronavirus crisis with fewer than 20,000 deaths said the national medical director (pictured, Stephen Powis) of the NHS
When asked if he hoped that the United Kingdom was not on the same trajectory as countries such as Italy , Stephen Powis (pictured alongside Business Secretary Alok Sharma) said: ‘If we can keep deaths below 20,000 we will have done very well in this epidemic’
Mr Powis insisted getting personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare staff was an ‘absolute priority’ as he detailed the numbers of products sent out.
More than 170million of the ‘very highest level masks’ have been dispatched ‘in the last couple of weeks,’ he said.
He added 40million gloves had been sent in recent days, as well as 25million face masks and 30million aprons.
‘So vast numbers going out,’ he said.
‘We’re strengthening the supply chain every day to ensure that every organisation gets the equipment that they need, that’s an absolute priority for us.’
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said Johnson continues to show only ‘mild symptoms’ of coronavirus.
‘He continues to lead the government’s effort in combating Covid-19,’ Sharma told reporters.
‘This morning he held a video conference call and he will continue to lead right from the front on this.’
The United Kingdom will have done well if it comes through the coronavirus crisis with fewer than 20,000 deaths, Stephen Powis, the national medical director of the National Health Service, said on Saturday
Aer Lingus will use some of its grounded fleet to bring a ‘significant order’ of PPE medical gear from China to Ireland in fight against coronavirus
Irish air traffic controllers bade farewell to an Aer Lingus jet which is flying to China to pick up PPE gear for health care staff across the entire island.
The Northern Ireland Executive has joined with the government in Dublin to buy the vital equipment directly from China.
An Aer Lingus Airbus A330 departed Dublin Airport this morning in the first flight on the mercy mission.
An Aer Lingus Airbus A330 departed Dublin Airport this morning for China in the first of ten flights to bring £210 million worth PPE equipment for front line health care workers battling the coronavirus outbreak
The airline volunteered to collect the equipment using jets which were otherwise lying idle as a result of the coronavirus shut down.
The captain of the Aer Lingus jet responding to the message said: ‘We are happy to be able to do it.’
The flight is the first of several which will bring in more than £200million worth of PPE equipment to last until the end of the year.
Between now and Tuesday, ten flights will bring the equipment back to Dublin from where it will be transported across the 32 counties on the island of Ireland.
Normally, the Irish government spends around £12m a year on PPE equipment.
The airline volunteered to collect the equipment using jets which were otherwise lying idle as a result of the coronavirus shut down
Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced that the region’s powersharing executive had joined forces with health chiefs in the Irish Republic to source the in-demand equipment for healthcare workers on the front line of the pandemic.
He said it was a ‘significant order’ that would satisfy supply needs in Northern Ireland.
Earlier this week, Ireland’s Health Minister Simon Harris said the state would be spending £210m on new stocks of PPE this year.