Merck & Co. officials said the firm has provided 500,000 personal protective masks to New York City as part of efforts to address the COVID-19 outbreak.
“COVID-19 is a generational challenge to the global community,” Merck Chairman and CEO Kenneth C. Frazier said. “At Merck, we embrace our fundamental responsibility to provide our essential medicines and vaccines to patients who need them, especially in times of crisis, and to do our part to support healthcare providers and their communities. We are enormously grateful for the front-line healthcare personnel who are helping the thousands of patients now affected by COVID-19.”
The donation stems from response to calls for personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and other front-line responders battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
The masks were delivered to New York City Emergency Management. As of this month, New York State confirmed more than 10,000 novel coronavirus cases.
Merck officials said the company remains focused on protecting the safety of its employees and their families, assuring the supply of medicines and vaccines reach patients, contributing scientific expertise to the development of antiviral approaches, and supporting healthcare providers and the communities in which they serve.