Finland gets10,000 masks from EC

Finland on Wednesday received a consignment of 10,000 masks purchased by the European Commission (EC), said a government press release.

The masks will be delivered to the Logistics Centre of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS).

The EC has purchased surgical masks for European Union member states through the newly set up Emergency Support Instrument (ESI).

The EC has purchased a total of 10 million surgical masks to be used by the EU Member States.

The masks will be distributed to the MEMBER STATES, on the basis of, for example, the number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The first consignment consists of 1.5 million masks has already arrived in the EU. The delivery is part of an EC-funded purchase and is not a joint procurement by the member states.

Meanwhile, the Social Affairs and Health Ministry has issued a decision, ordering those working in close contact with clients to wear a mask in social welfare units providing 24-hour care and in home care services.

The aim is to protect clients with an elevated risk of becoming seriously ill from the coronavirus, said a government press release.

If surgical nose-mouth masks are not available, the staff must wear washable or disposable fabric masks or visors covering their faces.

The decision has been issued under the Emergency Powers Act. It enters into force immediately and will remain in force until 30 June 2020.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) announced on Wednesday that it will cooperate with the forest products giant UPM to purchase COVID-19 protective equipment from China, reported the Xinhua news agency.

NESA has signed a cooperation agreement with UPM on sourcing a significant shipment of protective equipment from China, said an NESA press release.

Under the agreement, UPM's procurement unit will search for protective equipment suppliers and negotiate delivery terms with them. NESA, in turn, will select the suppliers, place the orders and manage the actual procurement process.

According to the press release, UPM has made its procurement professionals available to NESA free of charge.