More than four million items of personal protective equipment (PPE) have now been packed and delivered by Staffordshire County Council to frontline staff to help keep the county safe.

In addition to providing almost £18m in support to the care sector, the county council says it continues to provide items of PPE when supplies have been difficult to obtain.

Emergency supplies of gloves, masks, gowns, aprons, safety glasses and visors have been distributed to care homes, care agencies carrying out home visits, schools, places of worship and to frontline council staff.

Johnny McMahon, Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: "At the beginning of this crisis we promised we would do all we could to keep people safe and we continue to do so.

"We knew there was a global shortage of PPE and that's why we stepped in early to make sure no care home in Staffordshire would go without the equipment it needed if it ran out.

"Since the start of the pandemic we have now delivered over four million items of PPE to ensure that care workers and frontline staff in Staffordshire have what they need to do their jobs safely. It's been a real team effort to get the items out to where they are needed and I would like to thank all the organisations and volunteers involved.

"Care providers have been sourcing their own PPE wherever possible but we continue to source additional supplies in case future outbreaks cause further shortages."

Throughout the Pandemic, the supplies have been packed and delivered by a team of county council staff and volunteers.

Johnny added: "The county council will continue to do everything it takes to help save lives and support families and businesses through the enormous challenges which still lie in the months ahead.

"It really is incredible to see everyone pulling together to help each other but it is now more important than ever that we all continue to follow the official advice including good hand hygiene and social distancing to help contain the virus."