Although Massachusetts has passed the peak of COVID-19 infections, face masks are still in high demand statewide. On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and in response to Governor Baker’s call to support medical providers in the fight against COVID-19, Director-General Douglas Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO-Boston) donated an additional 10,000 N-95 and 50,000 surgical face masks to the Massachusetts state government on June 16, 2020 at the Culture Center of TECO-Boston in Newton. With the first donation of 100K surgical masks in April, this is the second time that Taiwan has expressed its support for our sister-state Massachusetts during the pandemic. The medical masks are made in and shipped directly from Taiwan.
The donation was accepted by Mark Sullivan, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI), on behalf of the Massachusetts State government. Secretary of Elder Affairs Elizabeth Chen, House Asian Caucus Chairman Donald Wong, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities Kay Khan, and Kevin O’Neil and Zachary Larrabee of the office of Congressman Joseph Kennedy also attended the handover. This critical supply of PPE was escorted by the Massachusetts National Guard and delivered to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) warehouse in Marlborough for distribution directly to health care professionals on the frontlines as they work around the clock to treat and save lives in the Commonwealth. By taking concrete action, Taiwan has demonstrated its determination to stand with Massachusetts in the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taiwan and Massachusetts established sister-state relations back to 1992 and share a long history of friendship and cooperation. Taiwan greatly values its partnership with Massachusetts and joins hands with the Commonwealth during this challenging time.
