EU commission sets up stockpile of ventilators and masks for virus

Ventilators
Brussels, March 19, 2020 (dpa/NAN) The European Commission is to create an emergency stockpile of medical equipment and supplies to help EU states facing shortages as they grapple with the outbreak of the new coronavirus sweeping through the continent.

“It should now be clear to everyone that we are all in this together,’’ EU crisis commissioner Janez Lenarcic said on Thursday in Brussels, announcing the plan.

Lenarcic stressed that the extra supply should complement existing sharing initiatives, to ensure that equipment such as ventilators, reusable masks, vaccines and laboratory supplies are sent where they are most needed.

“The new stockpile would also serve for future crises,’’ he noted.

The EU official said there was no estimate presently available for how much equipment is needed, although Italy and Spain have requested assistance from the EU executive.

Italy and Spain are the two countries worst affected in the EU.

In early March, Germany and France initially refused to export masks to Italy, however changed their positions amid criticism from Rome on a lack of solidarity.

Berlin has since announced it would send 1 million masks to Italy.

“EU states are restricting the export of masks outside the bloc, and the commission is pursuing joint procurement procedures for protective equipment,’’ Lenarcic noted.

The EU executive also issued guidance to the 26 member states on testing for COVID-19.

According to the document seen by dpa, hospitalised patients showing symptoms should be the first in line, followed by front-line workers in hospitals and care homes with symptoms.

“Drive-in testing centres could also be a good option under the right conditions,’’ the expert panel assembled by the commission said. (dpa/NAN)

ACO/YEE

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Edited by Abiodun Oluleye/Emmanuel Yashim