Plane carrying half a million items of PPE lands in Cardiff from China

A plane carrying crucial supplies of PPE for the NHS in Wales arrived at Cardiff Airport.

It comes after concerns there was a lack of specialist equipment for frontline workers.

The plane was carrying more than 500,000 fluid resistant gowns which have helped resupply the stock which had been running low across the country.

Over 660,000 gowns have now been flown in to Cardiff Airport this week after an earlier delivery of nearly 200,000 gowns from Cambodia.

Health minister Vaughan Gething spoke about the importance of working with other nations to ensure everyone has adequate supplies by providing and receiving mutual aid.

The cargo has come from Hangzhou in China and will provide around three months supply of fluid-resistant gowns for health and care services in Wales.

Around 50,000 gowns are used each week in the health and social care sector.

First Minister Mark Drakeford praised the effort of the government in getting the supply in to the country.

Lee Waters Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, said "We have been working very hard in Wales to ensure we have sufficient PPE in Wales, using all available avenues open to us – but we are particularly keen to develop made-in-Wales supplies to protect ourselves against any further delays and complications."

The minister also said the Welsh Government was looking at what PPE could be made locally for the future.