Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus accepted 25,000 surgical masks to be utilized by the County during its fight against COVID-19 at the County’s Emergency Services Center on Monday, May 4th. The donations came from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA), which donated a total of 500,000 masks to 12 downstate counties.
“This generous donation will provide important PPE to first responders, healthcare workers, and our municipalities,” Neuhaus said. “I thank the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association for helping restock PPE supply for our heroes on the frontlines. We will provide this equipment to the people who need it most in a timely and efficient manner.”
Neuhaus said that the County’s surgical masks will primarily be distributed to first responders, medical facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, assisted living facilities, and municipalities to help address their needs and support their functional operations. The County’s Emergency Operations Center was activated in response to the COVID-19 outbreak on Thursday, March 5th, and has remained fully-staffed every day since, which is its longest ongoing emergency response operation since it opened in 2008.
Since March 24th, Orange County has distributed more than 23,690 surgical gowns, 40,148 N-95 masks, 135,049 surgical masks, 82,376 pairs of gloves, 7,619 cloth masks, 9,421 bottles of hand sanitizer, 6,451 face shields and 3,797 goggles.
“When New Yorkers are in need, time and again, franchised new car dealers and their employees are always there for the communities where they live and work. Auto dealers are the brick-and-mortar backbones of Main Streets and neighborhoods throughout the region, supporting little leagues, hospitals, schools, senior centers, and many charities large and small,” GNYADA President Mark Schienberg said. “During this extremely challenging time, when so many New Yorkers are suffering, car dealerships are once again here to contribute.”
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
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