The Government will begin trialling the use of drones to help deliver vital medical supplies during the coronavirus crisis.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing that there were ‘tentative signs’ that progress is being made in the fight against the virus.

He said that transport routes are a ‘critically important’ part of the response and announced a new support package to ensure supply lines bringing essential goods into the UK remain open.

As part of those measures, Mr Shapps revealed that he has ‘also given the green light to trials of drones to deliver medical supplies’.

He added: ‘Earlier this year we awarded £28 million to Southampton and Portsmouth to deliver a future transport zone – as part of that initiative £8 million was earmarked for testing drones and how they might be used to deliver goods in the years and decades ahead.

‘Of course, now we have an urgent need, so we’re making use of that testing programme as part of our response to Covid-19.

For all the latest news and updates on Coronavirus, click here.

For our Coronavirus live blog click here.

‘I’ve fast-tracked trials to begin next week to carry equipment and supplies to St Mary’s Hospital near Newport on the Isle of Wight.’

Earlier, he paid tribute to the work of transport workers who have gone ‘above and beyond to keep vital freight and passenger services running’.

Mr Shapps added: ‘The actions I have announced today will ensure that transport can continue to serve the nation during this crisis, keep us supplied with everything we need to stay at home, yet also ensure that infrastructure required to emerge from this pandemic stands ready to serve us all when that time does arise.’

This is a breaking news story, updates to follow…

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Coronavirus latest news and updates

• Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live
• Read all new and breaking stories on our Covid-19 news page
• Coronavirus symptoms explained
• Find out the latest on which shops can stay open in a lockdown
• Who needs to go to work, who needs to stay at home and who is classed as a key worker?

Source: Read Full Article