Donation of 250,000 surgical masks will help protect health care workers and contribute to the City’s urgent need for more personal protective equipment
Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres and United States Ambassador Kelly Craft today announced the donation of 250,000 surgical masks to help New York City in its fight against COVID-19.
The donation comes in response to the Mayor de Blasio’s appeal for donations of supplies to help the City’s health care workers treat New Yorkers affected by COVID-19. New York City remains the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. with more than 29,000 confirmed cases and 517 deaths as of Saturday at 10AM.
“Our healthcare workers are heroes - plain and simple. We must do all we can to they protect them," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I thank the United Nations for their much needed donation. New Yorkers and the international community stand together in this fight.”
“These masks, in surplus to United Nations requirements, will be given to the medical professionals in New York City who have been working courageously, selflessly, and tirelessly in response to the spread of COVID-19 across the boroughs in the hope that they play some small role in saving lives. We speak with one voice to express our resolute support for this great city and its proud people. To us, New York is not just our home or the headquarters of the United Nations. It is a vibrant international capital through which the world communicates, debates, trades, and prospers. On behalf of the UN community and the diplomatic corps, we sincerely hope this modest donation makes a difference,” said United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.
“This is a time when all New Yorkers should be working together to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our city and that includes our diplomatic community. I want to thank the United Nations for stepping up to help their fellow New Yorkers. These surgical masks will help protect the health care workers fighting on the front lines of this pandemic as they work to save lives. Furthermore, this generous donation goes to highlight the enduring bond between the United Nations and New York City,” said Penny Abeywardena, Commissioner for the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs.
