// Barbour is producing 23,000 protective gowns for frontline medical workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic
// The news comes as medical workers continue to issue pleas for more protective gear
British fashion retailer Barbour has revealed it is producing 23,000 protective gowns for frontline medical workers battling coronavirus.
It is the latest clothing retailer to help fill the PPE shortage by temporarily turning over its production line after workers stated there was not enough protective equipment.
Barbour chair Dame Margaret Barbour told BBC Radio 4 that approximately 7000 gowns should be ready by the end of this week, although batches have already been received at some hospitals in the North East.
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She stated that its latest efforts were reviving memories of the retailer’s work in both world wars where it developed suiting first used by the Submarine Service during World War II, and “trench sleeping bags” in World War I.
Barbour stated that the retailer completely reorganised the factory layout to comply with social distancing regulations, and added that “it’s extremely worthwhile to know we’re playing our part”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also pledged more than £6 billion for health services in recent days as part of the coronavirus emergency funding, stating that some of the money would go towards procuring more PPE.
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