From left, Sam Jackman, president Havelock North Business Association, Sally Russell, Hawke's Bay branch president of NZ China Friendship Society and Dave Bromwich, National President NZCFS.
From left, Sam Jackman, president Havelock North Business Association, Sally Russell, Hawke's Bay branch president of NZ China Friendship Society and Dave Bromwich, National President NZCFS.
A New Zealand based China friendship organisation has been contacted by affected regions in China to source face masks amid the coronavirus epidemic.
As the virus is declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Havelock North based National President of NZ China Friendship Society Dave Bromwich hasreceived a call for help from his Chinese counterparts.
Bromwich, who normally spends five months of the year in China, said he was contacted earlier this week to locate protective face masks for those in need in Asia.
"I had a request on Thursday from Guangdong Friendship Association to see if I could locate a source here in New Zealand for medical masks," he said.
"They have completely run out in China and don't have any in stock. They must be asking all around the world to help find these face masks as protection.
"I had a quick look on the internet and a lot of stock has sold out because of the demand in China."
Bromwich, who spent a year living in Napier's sister city Lianyungang teaching English in 1996, said wearing face masks are essential to the Chinese public in an avoidance of ill-health.
People queue up to buy face masks at a cosmetics shop in Hong Kong. Photo / AP
"Often it is because they have a cold or are ill and don't want to cough or splutter into public air," he said. "But now everybody wants to have one whenever they're out in public to protect themselves.
"You will always see people with them on. The Chinese are very good at wearing face masks in the country on the subway or in the streets.
"The demand is out there to find and source some more face masks and protective clothing. There is a total shortage."
The death toll of coronavirus is now over 300 in China, with WHO confirming 98 cases in 18 countries outside of China.
The NZ China Friendship Society, who enable links between people, sister cities, schools and friendship associations, have 12 branches across New Zealand – all of which have been contacted for help.
"The people who we are in contact with in China are all held up there," Bromwich added.
"They're spending their Chinese New Year holiday period locked up at home.
"Travel for the Chinese has almost ground to a halt. They are refusing to venture out apart from to get the essentials like food. A lot of cities have closed down their public transport too."
