Taiwan Sends 100K N95 Masks to North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina received a gift of 100,000 N95 masks from Taiwan, state emergency officials said Thursday. The news comes as the state awaits delivery of 14.4 million masks ordered from the private sector, leaving a projected shortfall of the masks considered vital in protecting health care workers during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"Huge thanks to the government of Taiwan for sending 100,000 N95 masks to help protect North Carolinians," North Carolina Emergency Management said Thursday.

The haul of personal protective equipment was presented to NCEM by Daniel C.M. Hung, the acting director general of the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office, the agency said.

As of Wednesday, state emergency officials reported that North Carolina had about a 19 days supply of N-95 masks. NCEM has received more than 1 million masks from the Strategic National Stockpile, which is more than 97,000 short of the amount requested.

The state has placed orders for nearly 15 million N95 masks through the private sector, but to date has received fewer than 200,000.

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This article originally appeared on the Across North Carolina Patch