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A group of Edinburgh engineers have banded together to make hundreds of face shields a day, which can then distributed to frontline NHS staff to protect their eyes from the highly infectious novel coronavirus.

Nicola Sturgeon announced around that millions of protective items, including facemasks and gloves, were delivered to Scottish hospitals last month amid concerns over personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages.

However, workers are still being forced to choose between their jobs and personal safety as they are left without adequate protection - with full masks in short supply worldwide.

Across the country, people have been putting their 3D printers to good use and a group of innovative engineers and makers in Edinburgh are among those joining the volunteer effort to help those fighting coronavirus on the frontline.

Edinburgh Shield Force are a grassroots initiative making face shields for healthcare workers using 3D printers, with the capacity to manufacture up to 700 PPE masks a day and thousands every week.

Having already produced and delivered 1,250 face shields to hospitals in Edinburgh, they are raising funds to continue their vital work - with donations soaring over £8,000 since the crowdfunder was launched.

A statement on the crowdfunder reads: "We are producing medical supplies to support healthcare workers in this time of need.

"Currently we are producing 3D printed face shields that protect against pathogen transfer.

"Our team has been in constant contact with the NHS about design and functionality.

"We have produced and delivered 1,250 so far and have a facility ready to produce thousands more.

"We seek funding to defray our costs and allow us to produce face shields to deliver to hospitals and clinics all around Scotland.

"Our facility manufactures three different types of face shields and we are documenting the process to be able to share it with the world. Our goal is for any similar group to be able to replicate the process to keep their medical staff safe.

"Money raised will go towards materials and operations costs. Anything beyond this will go towards the development and production of other medical supplies needed by healthcare providers."

"£2 is enough to make one face shield, £20 is enough to make 10 face shields, £50 is enough to make 25 face shields, £400 gets enough 3D printing filament for 1000 shields, £900 gets a 3D printer, £1000 gets enough plastic sheets for 10,000 shields.

"Please help us continue our mission to produce face shields and deliver them to healthcare workers. Our goal is to support workers on the front lines of this crisis and to ensure they are as safe as possible."

You can donate to the crowdfunder here.

Elsewhere, Edinburgh DT teachers have also been making visors for key workers in their classrooms, while Penicuik man, David Ritchie, has been inundated with orders after he began manufacturing protective plastic shields from his home.

For all of the latest updates on coronavirus in Edinburgh, visit our breaking news live blog here.

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For the latest guidance on coronavirus from Health Protection Scotland, click here.