Premier’s call to arms: Gladys Berejiklian asks companies to help make medical supplies and hand sanitiser due to national shortage
- Australia imports much of its medical equipment such as masks and gloves
- But the supply has been severely disrupted as countries keep them
- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked companies to ‘retool’
- There has been another death in NSW overnight, taking death toll to 20
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked companies around New South Wales to make medical supplies to help fight coronavirus.
Australia imports much of its medical equipment such as masks and gloves – but the supply has been severely disrupted as countries stop exporting them.
Ms Berejiklian asked companies to help, saying: ‘Today I’m calling on the great people of our state, those great business people, those manufacturers who are able to re-tool, to consider re-tooling.’
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked companies around New South Wales to help make medical supplies
Companies who want to help can sign up here.
Last month cricket legend Shane Warne announced his SevenZeroEight distillery would stop making gin and start producing hand sanitiser in a ‘wartime effort’.
In an Instagram post, the 50-year-old said: ‘This is a challenging time for Australians and we all need to do what we can to help our healthcare system combat this disease and save lives.
‘I am happy SevenZeroEight has the ability to make this shift and encourage others to do the same.’
Health officials revealed there has been another death in NSW overnight, taking the state’s death toll to nine and the national death toll to 20.
A 95-year-old woman died at Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Macquarie Park, where several cases have previously been recorded.
Meanwhile, a new pop-up clinic has been set up at Bondi – a coronavirus hotspot – and expects to test 200 people a day.
It comes as farmers and fishers who had their exports derailed by coronavirus will be able to start sending their goods overseas again.
Air freight will be used to export Australian produce and bring back urgently needed medical supplies.
‘Getting our export sector back on its feet is crucial to reduce job losses through the crisis,’ Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said.
‘It’s a critical part of the ultimate economic recovery.’
The operation will also help prop up Australia’s struggling airlines, with the government spending $110 million to secure the flights.
Produce will be shipped to key Australian markets including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Fishers will also see $10 million worth of levies waived for the rest of the year.
Former Australia Post executive Michael Byrne will head the export operations.
Assistant Fisheries Minister Jonno Duniam said the industry had taken a massive hit when China shut its borders.
‘Unlocking key international markets will get thousands of fishers, divers, deckhands and processors back on the job,’ he said.
‘We all need to do what we can’: Cricket legend Shane Warne’s (pictured) distillery stops making gin and starts producing HAND SANITISER in a ‘wartime shift’ to combat COVID-19