WISCONSIN — Wisconsin has received 10,000 procedural masks and 1,000 medical outfits from our sister state in China.
“Our sister state of Heilongjiang, along with several state agencies and Wisconsin higher education and nonprofit institutions, all worked together to bring these supplies here and support our frontline COVID-19 responders in a time of need," said Gov.Tony Evers.
Since 1982, Wisconsin has had a sister state relationship with Heilongjiang Province, located in northeast China.
According to a press release from Gov. Evers, when Carolyn Brady, International Partnership and Outreach Programs Coordinator for UW-River Falls, heard about our need for PPE, she reached out to the Foreign Affairs Office in Harbin to see if Heilongjiang had any masks available.
That outreach lead to Gov. Wang Xiankui of Heilongjiang sending over 10,000 masks and 1,000 medical outfits.
“Competition for COVID-19 supplies is intense. That is why we are committed to pursuing every avenue – state, national and international – to obtain the resources necessary for our response,” Gov. Evers said.
Heilongjiang Province is just one of many PPE donors. The state has also acquired masks and other medical equipment from organizations such as Wisconsin Dental Association, WEC Energy Group, Kohler, Snap-On Tools, Northern States Power Co., ND Paper, the Wisconsin Humane Society, and Foxconn.
“I want to thank all of our donors who have answered the call to support our front lines in the fight against COVID-19. Donations like these provide our responders with the equipment they need to help keep our communities safe and healthy," said the governor.
