Frontline staff in county to receive 10,000 masks from China

Lincolnshire is receive a donation of 10,000 surgical masks from China.

The Hunan provincial government is donating the masks to to support frontline staff during the coronavirus response.

Lincolnshire County Council, which has signed a Decleration of Friendship with the Chinese province, say the masks will arrive in the county in the coming weeks.

Coun Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at the county council, said: “We have established a great trade relationship with Hunan in China, and this generous gift from their province is testament to our work to establish mutually beneficial sister agreements.

“Hunan has not had any confirmed cases of coronavirus for over a month now and their restrictions are slowly being lifted. It is the neighbouring province to Hubei province where Wuhan is located, and earlier in the year when the outbreak began in China, I sent a letter to the Hunan Governor with our best wishes from Lincolnshire.”

The county council has worked with the British Consulate in Guangzhou who have provided paperwork to ship these medical products quickly and smoothly through customs.

Coun Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive councillor for adult care and health at the county council, said: “These facemasks will be a welcome addition to the stocks local authorities and the NHS already have in Lincolnshire to protect our health and social care workers. They will be particularly useful as we don’t yet know how long the restrictions and extra protective measures will be needed.

“It is important to remember that there is still a risk of significantly more cases in Lincolnshire so residents here must continue to follow the guidance and not be complacent.”