Health Sec Hancock and minister Jenrick were among those parroting boast which has now been withdrawn
On Sunday, the government boasted – in its daily press conference and its social media – that it had delivered 170 million safe face-masks to NHS staff on the front line of the fight against the coronavirus.
The claim was immediately dismissed by angry staff who had either no masks at all, or only basic surgical masks that do not protect against the virus. The claim was also contradicted by footage of staff in action – none of whom were wearing masks of the minimum standard recommended by the World Health Organisation.
And just two days later, the government has been forced to drop its claim – because it was untrue:
Today’s press conference admitted that ‘distribution problems’ continue to mean staff are not receiving the protective equipment they need. The admission was accompanied by the usual promises that the problems are on the verge of being resolved.
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