UK to scrap Covid intensive care kit despite offer to send to Ukraine

Published by: Financial Times
Published on: February 7, 2024
By Laura Hughes

The UK government is due to scrap the country’s entire reserve of coronavirus pandemic intensive care equipment next month, despite requests to send 2,000 respirators to Ukraine.

The Covid Strategic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Reserve was created in April 2020 due to concerns about a shortage of respiratory equipment during the pandemic. It includes 6,682 Ventura breathing aids, which are set to be disassembled and recycled by April 1, government officials have confirmed.

The Afya Foundation, a US charity that distributes disused quality medical supplies around the world, said its partners in Ukraine have confirmed hospitals there are in desperate need of additional medical equipment and it was standing by to ship 2,000 of the devices to the country.

Comments closed

public health measures

Lockdowns and face masks ‘unequivocally’ cut spread of Covid, report finds

Published August 24, 2023

Published by: The Guardian
Published on: August 24, 2023

“When looking at the use of face masks and mask mandates, studies consistently reported the measures were an effective approach to reduce infection. The evidence further indicates higher-quality respirator masks – such as N95 masks – were more effective than surgical-type masks.”

Comments closed

universal masking

Don’t believe those who claim science proves masks don’t work

Published February 27, 2023

Published by: The Guardian
Published on: February 27, 2023
By Lucky Tran

Masks have played a key role in keeping us all safe throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. At the start, masks helped flatten the curve to protect our hospital systems, and since, masks have helped make public spaces and essential services more open and accessible to everyone. Many studies show that masks work, and they work best when everyone wears a high-quality one to protect each other. Masks are magnificent.

Comments closed

universal masking

Yes, masks reduce the risk of spreading COVID, despite a review saying they don’t

Published February 6, 2023

Published by: The Conversation
Published on: February 6, 2023
By C Raina MacIntyre, Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, David Fisman, Trish Greenhalgh

There is strong and consistent evidence for the effectiveness of masks and (even more so) respirators in protecting against respiratory infections. Masks are an important protection against serious infections.

Comments closed

Tag: respirators