The UK government has announced that thousands of ventilators will become available to the NHS next week.

Leading today’s daily coronavirus briefing, Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said: “The Prime Minister and Health Secretary are working with companies world wide to ensure we get the material we need to increase tests of all kinds.”

He went on: “As well as increasing the number of staff on the front line and the tests which protect them, we must also increase the capacity to provide oxygen to those worst affected.

“We have just over 8,000 ventilators deployed to NHS hospitals now… but we need more. That’s why we are buying more ventilators from abroad, including from EU nations.”

More to follow.