Coronavirus: Emergency PPE stockpiled

Queensland is building a ‘strategic medical stockpile’ of critical PPE to protect healthcare workers from the next pandemic.

 

Queensland is building a “strategic medical stockpile” of critical personal protective equipment to protect healthcare workers from the next pandemic.

Health Minister and Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland had now gone eight days with no new cases of coronavirus, with only two active cases, both on the Gold Coast, remaining in the state.

Mr Miles said the state’s total of 1066 cases was still fewer than the state had initially modelled as the “expected daily count of a three-month peak” of the virus. Initial modelling showed 30,000 Queenslanders could die, and one-quarter of citizens could be infected.

Mr Miles said in the early days of the pandemic, Queensland did not have enough PPE to deal with that modelled peak. He said the government was putting together a ­“strategic medical stockpile”.

Queensland has 70 per cent more gloves than before coronavirus emerged, 2½ times the amount of eyewear, 150 per cent more gowns, twice as many masks, and more than 90 days’ supply of PPE.