HSE to spend €1bn on PPE as focus shifts to testing and tracing

HSE Chief Paul Reid said nine million masks are required by the healthcare service every week

The Health Service Executive will spend up to €1bn on personal protective equipment this year, with similar amounts to be spent on testing and contact tracing as the country begins to move out of the pandemic.

On May 18, the country will reach stage one on the roadmap for easing restrictions. Garden centres and outdoors stores, where social distancing can take place, will re-open.