Coronavirus News: Dyson Joins Automakers In Producing Ventilators After Receiving Orders For 20,000 Units

Vacuum and hand dryer manufacturer, Dyson, has begun designing ventilators after it reportedly received an order from the U.K. for 10,000 units during the coronavirus pandemic.

A letter, obtained by CNN, from Dyson founder James Dyson to the company’s employees, confirmed the news.

In just 10 days after receiving the call from U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dyson had designed and built a ventilator called the “CoVent,” the letter said.

"This new device can be manufactured quickly, efficiently and at volume," Dyson said to employees. The CoVent ventilators will be ready by early April, a spokesperson for the company told the news outlet.

Beyond the order from the prime minister, Dyson has also reportedly received an order from the U.K. National Health Service for 10,000 units, and the company will donate another 5,000 CoVents.

Ventilators are a critical medical device in treating COVID-19 patients as the virus attacks the lungs, and the devices are in short supply around the world.

Automakers such as Ford, GM, and Tesla have also begun producing ventilators.