Monterey’s sister city donates medical masks, goggles

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) Monterey's sister city in Taiwan has donated medical masks and goggles to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

City officials said officials in Tainan were concerned about the spread of the virus in the U.S. and reached out. The city said they donated 2,900 medical masks and 300 medical goggles, which arrived Tuesday.

The city said the masks will be added to inventory in the Emergency Operations Center for first responders.

“We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of our sister city, Tainan,” said Mayor Clyde Roberson. “This worldwide pandemic shows that we are all in this together, and it is heartwarming to see how people are helping each other, even across the seas. These are the times that truly bring the meaning of sister cities to light. Just as the sign on the boxes read - Together, Stronger.”

Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che said, ”Friendship with people is to treat each other sincerely, and the fundamental way of urban diplomacy is the same. The rapid spread of the epidemic in the United States in the past few months shows the need, and we should stand up at this moment and take the initiative to share the surplus materials with international family and friends.”