Glastonbury has recently donated thousands of unused festival ponchos to hospitals in South-West England, which is meant to act as personal protective equipment for NHS workers among the front lines. After reports of a “large well-known summer festival” was asked if it had “any ponchos going spare” started to circulate online, festival co-organiser Emily Eavis confirmed their contribution via a statement to The Guardian, citing the lack of protective equipment currently available to healthcare workers.
A senior NHS worker that I know just told me that his office have literally emailed a large well-known summer festival to ask for any ponchos going spare, because they can't source enough aprons and PPE. I'm not even slightly joking.
— Here’s what I reckon: (@angryaboutbikes) April 15, 2020
The festival’s sizable donation comes with added pressures on the government’s efforts to supply equipment for NHS workers. Glastonbury was slated to celebrate their 50th anniversary this summer, however was forced to cancel the event shortly after announcing their lineup due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
H/T: The Guardian