UK says 50 million face masks it bought might not be safe

British government says it won’t be using 50 million face masks it bought during a scramble to secure protective equipment for medics during coronavirus outbreak because of concerns y might t be safe.

masks were part of a 252 million pound ($332 million) contract government signed with investment firm Ayanda Capital in April. Papers filed in a court case reveal that masks won't be distributed because y have ear loops rar than he loops and may t fit tightly eugh.

papers, published Thursday, are part of a lawsuit against Conservative government by campaigning groups Good Law Project and EveryDoctor. y want courts to review contracts signed by government for personal protective equipment, which y say were t properly scrutinized.

As coronavirus outbreak accelerated across U.K. in March, it became clear that country lacked eugh masks, gloves, gowns and or protective gear for health care workers and nursing home staff. That sparked a race to buy billions of pieces of equipment from suppliers around world.

Jolyon Maugham, director of Good Law Project, said government h signed three contracts worth more than 100 million pounds each “with respectively a pest control company, a confectioner and a family hedge fund.”

“Each of those contracts has revealed real cause for alarm,” he said.

government said in its response to lawsuit that offer to supply 50 million masks came from Andrew Mills, a businessman who is both an viser to government’s Board of Tre and to Ayanda Capital. Mills has denied re was any conflict of interest.

government says ar 150 million masks of a different supplied by Ayanda are still being tested.

It said in a statement that “re is a robust process in place to ensure orders are of high quality and meet strict safety standards, with necessary due diligence undertaken on all government contracts.”

Opposition parties are calling for an urgent investigation into way personal protective equipment was acquired.

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