Portimão Council has begun distributing free face masks to citizens through the CTT postal service.
The masks will be delivered throughout this week to households where water consumption was registered this past winter, says the council. According to the records of municipal water company EMARP, this translates into around 34,000 households. In total, there are 194,172 masks to go around.
The masks are being delivered in envelopes containing six masks and an instructions manual with recommendations on how to use them correctly. These kits were created by a group of volunteers, the council adds.
People living in rural areas without water meters will also be entitled to the masks and should contact their local parish council if they do not receive them during this week.
The council stresses that the use of a mask does not mean that people should now disrespect their civic duty of staying home.
Meanwhile, a Canadian resident living in Lagoa has decided to make masks to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Druanne Haugan is planning to deliver the first batch of masks (around 100) to Lagoa’s firefighters on Friday.
“I do the cutting of the material, elastics and nose wires and also the ironing of the pleats,” says Druanne.
“I then get a seamstress to do the sewing part. We also purchased a special non-woven fabric that is put between two outside layers to provide a higher level of protection,” she told us.
Druanne has had material donated by Hildegard Borkent of Almancil’s Seven Quintas real estate agency as well as by the staff at Quinta do Rosal resort in Armação de Pêra.
“I will continue to make masks as I think everyone wearing masks is key to opening up the economy again without a relapse. I would like to give them to frontline workers and the elderly. Also, I would love to get some volunteers to help with the sewing and would welcome donations of clean high-thread-count cotton sheets,” she told us.
Those interested in helping out can contact Druanne directly or explore other ways to help on the ‘Máscaras para Todos’ page on Facebook.
964 552 765 | [email protected]
