Supply of 2.5 million One-off Face Masks Arrives in Slovakia

24. marca 2020 15:09

Bratislava, March 24 (TASR) - A total of 2.5 million one-off face masks, 50,000 testing kits, 20,000 pieces of protective clothing and 25,000 protective glasses arrived in Slovakia on Tuesday, Interior Ministry spokesman Petar Lazarov told TASR on the same day, adding that a part of the supply was donated by private companies. "In a few moments the medical supplies will arrive in lorries at warehouses of the Interior Ministry and the State Material Reserves in Slovenska Lupca (Banska Bystrica region) to be subsequently distributed where they are needed the most," said Interior Minister Roman Mikulec (OLaNO). The aircraft carrying medical supplies from China landed at Prague airport early morning on Tuesday thanks to the assistance of the Czech Republic that provided and will provide Slovakia with air capacities available to it based on the contract it has signed with a Chinese air carrier. The medical supplies include 2 million one-off face masks bought by the Slovak Interior Ministry, while the rest are a gift from private companies J&T and Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding (EPH). The firms are also preparing a supply of respirators that are needed chiefly for healthcare staff on the front line. The companies have earmarked €8 million in total to help Slovakia and the Czech Republic to fight coronavirus. ko/mcs/bub