British Overseas Territories: Coronavirus

(asked on 6th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assistance they have given to the Overseas Territories to help cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) which Overseas Territories have introduced testing for COVID-19.


Answered by
Baroness Sugg Portrait
Baroness Sugg
This question was answered on 15th May 2020

The Government is firmly committed to supporting the Overseas Territories in dealing with the various impacts of COVID-19. I am in regular contact with the political leaders and Governors of the Territories, to understand the situation on the ground, discuss their needs and identify how we can best support them. I am overseeing a cross-Whitehall Unit, led by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development, to support the Territories on four key areas - healthcare, economy, security, and access (for transport and supplies). We have provided essential medical equipment, medical advice and facilitated the recruitment of healthcare professionals where needed. We have boosted testing capabilities in all the inhabited Territories, except Tristan da Cunha and Pitcairn where there are no cases of COVID-19. The testing capabilities will not only benefit the response to COVID-19 but will also support the testing of other diseases. We are also providing financial support to mitigate the economic impacts in the most vulnerable Territories.

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