GP surgeries to get face masks, gloves and aprons to protect against coronavirus

GP surgeries across Wales will receive face masks, gloves and aprons for their personal protection as they treat people with suspected coronavirus.

640 Welsh surgeries will receive their prepared packs this week.

The Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, also authorised Personal Protection Equipment to be released from stockpiles for frontline NHS staff if necessary.

The announcement comes after another two people were diagnosed with the virus in Wales over the weekend. Another two cases were confirmed on Monday 9, bringing the total number of cases to six in Wales.

The Welsh Government has also been given emergency powers to tackle the spread of coronavirus to "respond quickly and effectively to the COVID-19 outbreak."

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said:

“These packs are part of robust infection control measures that we have in place, and I want to reassure people that we are working closely with NHS Wales and social services across the country to implement our planned response.

“It is important that frontline medical and social care staff have the equipment they need to keep them safe while they help people with suspected Coronavirus.

“The face masks, gloves and aprons are part of a stockpile that we have in place as part of our contingency planning should they be needed to support our NHS and social services."

Shoppers have been panic buying hand sanitiser as coronavirus spreads. Credit: PA Images

Some supermarkets have put restrictions in place on items like pasta, anti-bacterial wipes and hand soap in an effort to prevent stockpiling.

Tesco has almost entirely sold out of dried pasta online and has now introduced a five limit number on several items.

On Sunday, a third person in the UK died from coronavirusas the number of cases continued to soar. The man in his 60s had underlying health problems and died at North Manchester General Hospital after having recently returned from Italy.

The Welsh NHS has launched a new symptom checker for suspected coronavirus cases as phone lines becoming increasingly busy.

People who suspect they may have the virus are being urged to use the checker as their "first port of call."