I've been waiting for journalists (ha!) to get to the bottom of the AWOL PPE - I'm still baffled by the exact nature of the problem - is it a shortage of raw materials/manufacturing capacity/cost or price issues where the UK is outbid by other countries/a distribution problem or a combination of factors?
On a different note, how are you doing for basic staples? I've found yeast but am still looking for strong flour. Am trying a version of soda bread using self-raising flour and bottled beer as the fizzy raising agent. Not bad.