The city of Manila has received thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE), donated by the municipal government of its sister city Guangzhou in China. 

About 200,000 N95 masks, 100,000 surgical masks, and 2,000 thermal scanners arrived at the Manila City Hall on Wednesday.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso ordered the immediate distribution of the masks and scanners to frontline health workers in hospitals and barangays in the city.

Each barangay will receive two scanners, while the masks will be distributed to frontliners in the hospitals and other public health facilities, he added.

Several hospitals in the country have been appealing for medical equipment donations as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 crisis.

In the Philippines, there are now 552 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 35 deaths and 20 recovered patients, as of Tuesday afternoon.

By Minka Klaudia Tiangco  (Manila Bulletin)