Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd, headquarters in Preston, has donated 2000 surgical masks to former suppliers in China, as it steps up to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis surrounding Coronavirus.
The UK’s leading sheet piling specialist felt it had to act, having heard of the shortage of face masks – items commonly worn in China as a cultural response to the threat of viruses and diseases.
The steel sheet pile supplier and installer sent the surgical face masks to Anshan Iron and Steel Group – a business based in Anshan in Liaoning – receiving heartfelt thanks from the company. Sheet Piling (UK) made the donation with the approval of its current steel sheet pile supplier, Emirates Steel. Sheet Piling (UK) Limited also supplies sheet piles manufactured by ArcelorMittal.
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, has appealed for authorities and businesses across the world to supply face masks, as China tries to prevent the further spread of a virus that has already killed 1776 and infected 71,449 people (as of February 16). It is proving impossible to buy masks now, due to the huge demand not just in China but in other countries such as Taiwan and India.
By stepping up and making its donation, Sheet Piling UK hopes to encourage other businesses to do the same. It believes tariffs and duties on imported medical supplies have been removed by the Chinese government, to encourage the world to respond to its plea for masks.
The need is a real one. There are 500,000 medical staff in the province of Hubei and they have to change their mask four times a day. Although China produces half of the world’s masks, its production has been slashed because many Chinese factories have had to close, to contain the virus.
As well as medical workers having a requirement for masks, public transport staff in China have also been told to wear masks, along with workers in some shops, businesses and public premises.
The threat of Coronavirus is now seen as so severe that the latest moves (February 16) have seen people being ordered to stay at home. Only one person per household can leave, once every three days, to buy food and essential items. Private cars have also been banned from the roads and only businesses like chemists, food and medical shops and hotels can stay open.
Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd’s managing director, Andrew Cotton, says: “We felt we simply had to act and send face masks to our contacts in China. This has been hugely appreciated, as the pictures we received show. We would urge others to do the same, if they trade with China and have suppliers or customers who would be equally grateful for these items and who could help distribute them, as necessary.”
