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UK's massive Covid waste? PPE kits worth $31.8 million for auction at just $600
UK Covid Waste: The UK decided to get rid of the stock as it was costing too much to store it as last year the country spent $28.1 million (£23 million) on storage.
About 64.4 million surgical face masks and 3.7 million plastic aprons worth 31.8 million USD (£26 million) paid for by British citizens are being sold for as little as $612 (£500) in an online auction, a report said. The personal protective equipment (PPE) was ordered during the peak of the Covid pandemic but never even left China as they were deemed surplus to the requirements, Daily Mail reported.
The Department for Health and Social Care as per DailyMail has admitted to incurring losses of £8.7 billion due to PPE that was not fit for use, expired or overpriced. As per National Audit Office estimates the facemasks would have cost taxpayers about 40p each at the time of the pandemic, bringing the price of those auctioned to £25.8 million.
Read more: China stops Covid tracking app, cases drop sharply from all-time highs: 7 points
The aprons cost 5p each, therefore their overall price came to roughly $20,000 (£180,000). In the auction organised by UK-based disposal firm Ramco, the items were sold in two lots priced at around $306 (£250), DailyMail reported.
The UK decided to get rid of the stock as it was costing too much to store it as last year the country spent $28.1 million (£23 million) on storage.
Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow Health Secretary told the outlet, "The Government is spending more on storing PPE in China each week than Manchester United pay for Cristiano Ronaldo’s wages."
Earlier this year, UK officials disclosed that 580 lorry tonnes of obsolete PPE were being burnt each month.
