In the coming days, the EU will distribute 1.5 million medical masks among seventeen Member States. The United Kingdom also receives a batch.
The masks were purchased through tenders organized by the European Commission, to which the Member States can participate.
In total, 10 million masks are purchased. In the coming weeks, these will be divided into parties of 1.5 million between regions and countries that need them.
“We are doing everything we can to help the Member States get protective equipment to health workers on the frontline,” said EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides (Health).
Hundreds of thousands of masks have already been distributed in recent weeks from stock built up through the Civil Protection Mechanism (rescEU).
In the coming months, 100 million euros of European money will be available for health-related products.
