Tech Giant to Make 15,000 Ventilators for Coronavirus Patients Instead of Vacuum Cleaners

In response to the ventilator shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a tech company specializing in vacuums and hair dryers is refocusing their resources to produce 10,000 ventilators for the United Kingdom – while donating 5,000 more for the world!

Upon receiving a grant from the British government, the company, Dyson, is collaborating with The Technology Partnership on the new battery-powered portable ventilators, called CoVent.

“This new device can be manufactured quickly, efficiently and at volume,” says founder James Dyson in an e-mail to Fast Company. “It is designed to address the specific clinical needs of Covid-19 patients, and it is suited to a variety of clinical settings.”

Aside from the 10,000 ventilators the company has been asked to produce, Dyson is donating 1,000 more to the U.K. along with another 4,000 internationally.