TOLEDO, Ohio — Surgical masks are flying – literally – into the Glass City thanks to a Toledo aircraft repair company.
David Corwin, owner of Toledo Jet, worked with Saltillo, Mexico-based Aeronaves TSM to secure thousands of surgical masks.
A plane delivered 80,000 masks to Northwest Ohio via Toledo Express Airport Wednesday night.
The masks are allocated for Mercy Health to help keep people safe on the front lines of the pandemic, according to Toledo Jet.
"If you look at the stories coming out of everywhere where they are at the epicenter of the pandemic, shortages of supplies has been the common theme throughout all of this," said Randy King, an emergency physician at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center. "So any supplies that we can get at any stage of this process is greatly appreciated."
"There's a lot of negativity in the air right now, and I get it," Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. "That is why it is so special to have an event like tonight where we can pause and celebrate just the goodness that we have within us."
The company behind the move said there were several other N95-like masks that will go to local police officers and firefighters.
RELATED VIDEO:
Facts not fear: Putting COVID-19 into context
WTOL 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit /coronavirus-covid-19 for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan specifically, learn more about the symptoms and keep tabs on the cases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 419-248-1100.
Protect yourself from coronavirus
- Cover: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Dispose: Throw used tissues in a lined can.
- Wash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
- Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use and alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.