ENFIELD, CT — One of Enfield's largest businesses and its Manhattan-based parent corporation have announced their plans to substantially aid health care workers during the current new coronavirus pandemic.

Brooks Brothers, the nation's oldest men's clothier headquartered on Madison Avenue in New York City, has a support center and distribution center on Phoenix Ave. in Enfield. Information technology, finance, a call center, logistics, human resources, real estate, store planning and facilities are all based at the local site.

On Monday, the company announced its response to the urgent call from the White House and other state and local leaders for medical supplies. Brooks Brothers is in the process of converting its New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts factories from manufacturing ties, shirts and suits to now making masks and gowns, according to a statement on its website.

"Brooks Brothers plans to use these facilities to produce up to 150,000 masks per day on an ongoing basis, to help increase access to protective gear for health care workers and others battling the spread of COVID-19 at the nation's hospitals and other facilities. The company will also be producing gowns," according to the statement.