Czech Medical Aid Arrives in Spain, Heads to Italy

A further delivery of medical equipment from the Czech Republic, including 10,000 protective medical suits is set to reach the Italian city of Milan by a truck on Monday (30 March 2020).

Spain and Italy have requested assistance through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) with medical supplies such as personal protection equipment, respirators, masks and test kits.

The NATO centre passed the requests on to NATO Allies and partners, who provide assistance on a bilateral basis.

The EADRCC is NATO’s principal disaster response mechanism. “The Centre operates on a 24/7 basis, coordinating requests from NATO Allies and partners, as well as offers of assistance to cope with the consequences of major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu, adding, “we are grateful to the Czech Republic for this generous bilateral aid to other NATO Allies – this is solidarity in action.”

Spain reported a national daily record of 838 coronavirus deaths on Sunday. The 24-hour death toll rose for the third consecutive day, and lockdown measures have been tightened as officials cling to hope that slowing growth rates mean they are nearing the peak of the crisis.

The number of people to have died after testing positive for the coronavirus has risen by 756 in Italy.  The total number of dead in Italy is now 10,779, more than a third of all the deaths from the disease worldwide.