No10 confirms that UK is not taking part in EU initiative to bulk buy ventilators and other equipment needed to tackle coronavirus. Asked why, Boris Johnson’s spokesman says: “We are not a member of the EU.”
Downing Street says there are currently 8,000 ventilators in the NHS. 8,000 more have been procured and will be available in “the coming weeks”. Those being proposed by manufacturers need to be tested, but govt is confident of having thousands more ready “in the coming months”.
On antibody tests, No10 says the 3.5 million that have been purchased are from different suppliers. They need to be thoroughly tested to find one (or more) that works properly. Unclear whether money has been handed over or what happens if they prove to be inaccurate.
