Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has spearheaded the delivery of 100,000 bottles of much-needed hand sanitiser to organisations that are on the frontline of fighting the coronavirus outbreak, with the possibility of more to come.
The 100ml bottles have been made available to help protect the health and wellbeing of local people closely involved in responding to the virus at this critical time.
50,000 bottles have been supplied directly to schools, social workers, carers and coronavirus responders through local councils across the region.
The remaining bottles are being provided to GPs, NHS GP practices, Cleveland Police and members of the fire brigade.
The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority were able to secure the bottles from a local company that specialises in the supply of hand sanitiser to the health and beauty treatment sector.
The move comes after the Mayor joined a call from Tees Engineering Network for businesses in the sector to donate any unused or excess personal protective equipment, such as visors and masks, to hospital staff, carers and other frontline personnel.
Mayor Houchen said: “We must do all we can to protect key workers who put themselves at risk during these unprecedented times. I’m delighted to be able to gift 100,000 bottles of sanitiser to help in our fight to protect our amazing key workers.
“We must put the safety and welfare of local people first at this difficult time.
“For many on the frontline, hand sanitiser has become almost impossible to find. We need to make sure that people, especially those who are doing heroic work and who come into contact with lots of people in their roles as key workers, or who help the most vulnerable, can get the support they need. This, in turn, will help slow the spread of this deadly virus across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
“Good hand hygiene is central to Government and Public Health England advice on cutting transmission rates and I want to encourage everyone to continue to follow these vital guidelines and be vigilant in washing their hands, especially after going outside.”
