Coronavirus: Ineos builds hand sanitiser plant in just 10 days

Chemical giant Ineos has hit their 10-day target to build a hand sanitiser plant and they have started to produce a million units a month.

Ineos are focusing on meeting the needs for frontline NHS staff along with care services in making “pocket bottle” hand sanitisers.

The hand sanitisers being produced by Ineos are in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) specifications.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of Ineos said, “Now that production of the Ineos hand sanitiser has started, we are working on the fastest way to get them to where they need to be.

“I am confident that within a few days our sanitiser will start to be seen in hospitals, surgeries and people’s homes.”

According to new figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the true death toll across the UK is far higher than what NHS hospitals are reporting.

Data from the ONS for England and Wales shows there were 24% more coronavirus deaths up to, and including 20 March, compared to hospital only data reporting in that same period.

The ONS looked at all data for coronavirus reported deaths only, to include care homes and hospital deaths in the community.

For the same time period there were a total of 210 deaths in England and Wales, where death certificates mentions’ Covid-19, compared to the 170 coronavirus related deaths that was reported by Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England.

Swedish firm Ikea have opened a coronavirus test centre for NHS staff to help increase testing for frontline staff.

The testing centre has opened at the Wembley store, north west London and Ikea are eyeing up other stores in the UK.