Chinese city Nanning donates 4,000 masks to Wakefield for NHS staff fighting COVID-19
A total of 4,000 masks, 150 disposable gowns and 250 sets of goggles have arrived from Nanning City, which was partnered with Wakefield last year.
There's been concerns over a serious shortage of protective equipment (PPE), particularly gowns, for frontline NHS staff at Pinderfields Hospital, where coronavirus patients are being treated.
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Hide AdConservative councillor Samantha Harvey, who is closely involved in the partnership between the two cities, said she hoped the supplies would make a big difference.
She said: "This has all come out of the relationship we've built up with Nanning over the last year.
"They really want us to be protected and safe so it's really good news.
"Nanning City has had to fight coronavirus already and now we're going through it they recognise that we are the ones that need the equipment now."
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Hide AdThe supplies were sent to Wakefield directly by Nanning's mayor, Zhou Hongbo.
The city is home to seven million people and is located in southern China near its border with Vietnam.
Though the city, located around 750 miles from Wuhan where COVID-19 started, was one of the first areas to be affected by the pandemic, China is believed to be over the worst of the virus now.
Coun Harvey added: "Nanning is out of lockdown and they've resumed production.
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Hide Ad"They haven't had any new reported cases since, which is good.
"They're a couple of weeks ahead of the UK in that regard."
Coun Harvey's travel agents is one of the thousands of local businesses that have taken a financial hit from the pandemic.
But the city centre firm has played its part in the emergency response, helping repatriate Wakefield holidaymakers who were stranded abroad.
Councillor Harvey said the Nanning city delivery had given her a welcome chance to help those in need.
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Hide AdShe explained: "I really wanted a chance to do something and make a contribution.
"I have to be very careful, because my husband's in a high risk group, but still I wanted to be out helping the community because that's what we need right now. It's very important we do this together."
Local Democracy Reporting Service