Taiwan ships 92,000 surgical masks to S.C.

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The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta has donated 92,000 surgical masks to South Carolina to support frontline medical personnel battling COVID-19.

The masks were shipped directly from Taiwan to the S.C. Emergency Management Division beginning May 27, according to a news release from S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond’s office.

Daniel Hung, acting director-general of the Atlanta office, said the Taiwan made the donation in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 in South Carolina.

Taiwan has donated more than 26 million masks to affected countries and regions since April, according to the release. The S.C. shipment was part of its fourth wave of donations, which sent 3.15 million masks to the U.S.

The United States has received 8.4 million masks in total from Taiwan, according to the release.

“For several months, the SCEMD logistics team has been working diligently to get critical supplies like personal protective equipment into the state for our health care workers and first responders,” Kim Stenson, director of  the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, said.  “We are greatly humbled by this generous donation of surgical masks by the people of Taiwan. This gift comes at precisely the right time to best help our families and communities across South Carolina.”