Test kits and protective equipment for essential workers are to be flown in from the UK soon, the Governor has said.

John Rankin explained yesterday that specialist gear, including personal protection equipment, had been allocated to Bermuda and other Overseas Territories.

He said: “The UK Crown agents have now sourced the material — both the PPE and test kits, which have been requested by all of the Overseas Territories.

“I hope that we will be delivering both test kits and PPE to Bermuda as soon as possible.”

The Governor said he was unable to be more specific about when the items would arrive.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said yesterday that supplies so far had been acquired through either independent suppliers in the United States or through the Pan American Health Organisation.

She added that PAHO helped with the latest shipment of test kits, which was expected to arrive last night, would give the capacity to test between 450 and 500 people.

Ms Wilson said that Public Health England had helped to validate testing facilities in Bermuda and supplied communications and administrative support.

David Burt, the Premier, took a swipe at the UK last Friday.

He said that “numerous promises” had been made by PHE to provide protective equipment for medical staff and test kits.

But he added: “There has been nothing that has resulted from those particular pledges.

“We wait to see what assistance they may render at some point in time.”

Mr Burt said then that additional protective equipment and other items were due to arrive from China on Thursday.