20,000 military-grade masks are on the way to help battle Covid-19

The Thai Royal Army has approved the production of military and medical protective masks, a total of 20,000 pieces valued at 600 million baht, to help the nation save over 500 million baht on imported N95 masks. Funding has come from government agencies and the private sector, hoping to help 500 medical personnel in need in the southern border provinces and in Khon Kaen, north east Thailand.

Associate Professor Dr. Wirachai Phutwong, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen campus, says that he received an urgent letter from the Army Research and Development Office that the military commander had approved the production of medical protective masks.

Kasetsart University and King Mongkut’s University of Technology (northern Bangkok) will now proceed with the production of the full-face mask, which is of a military grade as well as for medical purposes. The Ministry of Defense has approved the production at Kasetsart University of 20,000 units per year.

The Army Research and Development department considers that the move is “necessary and urgent” to support an immediate solution to the lack of “germ protection” in regular masks.

Dr. Wirachai says…

“In addition to Rajavithi Hospital, he also contacted Khon Kaen Hospital to help produce 500 protective masks because medical personnel were infected with Covid-19 from patients because of a lack of protective equipment.”

SOURCE: Naew Na