The U.K. vowed a national effort to produce ventilators. Is it working?

LONDON — Subbing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was suffering from covid-19, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on Tuesday delivered some good news: The "first of thousands" of desperately needed new ventilators will roll off the production lines to be delivered to British hospitals next week.

By the “first of thousands,” a spokesman later clarified, Gove meant the first 30 ventilators — of the 30,000 new machines the government seeks.