Lleida receives personal protective equipment donated by Chinese city of Hefei

The 189 boxes with face masks, gloves and gowns were shipped from Shanghai on Friday

Lleida mayor Miquel Pueyo and Spanish government sub-delegate José Crespín supervise the arrival of medical gear from China (Courtesy of Lleida city council) / ACN

ACN | Lleida

First published: May 3, 2020 05:28 PM

The western Catalan city of Lleida received 189 boxes of personal protective equipment on Sunday that were donated by its sister city of Hefei in China.

The face masks, gloves, and gowns took off from the Spanish Consulate in Shanghai on Friday, making their way to Madrid before being transported to Lleida by two army vehicles on Sunday.

All in all, some 78,000 face masks, 2,000 gloves, and 2,240 gowns arrived in Lleida on Sunday under the surveillance of the city's mayor, Miquel Pueyo, and José Crespín, the Spanish government sub-delegate.

Pueyo thanked Hefei officials for the humanitarian aid, noting that his city has maintained ties with the Chinese one since 1997.

According to the mayor, the gear will be used by city council staff as well as locals who have not yet been able to procure masks for themselves.

China Lleida coronavirus Covid-19 PPE Hefei Miquel Pueyo Paeria