South Africa hopes to be building ventilators before the end of April, with a target of manufacturing 10 000 devices by the end of June, with the capacity to build up to 50 000 more if necessary.
Just how many ventilators are ultimately built is likely to depend on the needs of other countries, and the extent to which they can ramp up their own manufacturing.
Last year the world required less than 80 000 new ventilators to satisfy demand. By some estimates the United States alone now needs roughly that many ventilators to deal with Covid-19.
Just how many ventilators are ultimately built is likely to depend on the needs of other countries, and the extent to which they can ramp up their own manufacturing.
Last year the world required less than 80 000 new ventilators to satisfy demand. By some estimates the United States alone now needs roughly that many ventilators to deal with Covid-19.