BERLIN: German customs officers try to trace down about 6 million face masks, ordered to guard well being employees from the coronavirus, that they are saying went lacking at an airport in Kenya.
“The authorities are trying to find out what happened,” a German defence ministry spokeswoman mentioned, confirming a report first revealed by Spiegel On-line.
A Kenyan Airports Authority (KAA) spokeswoman mentioned investigations had discovered nothing thus far.
The FFP2 masks, which filter out greater than 90 p.c of particles, had been ordered by German customs authorities. They and the armed forces procurement workplace have been serving to the well being ministry to pay money for urgently wanted protecting gear. The cargo was due in Germany on March 20 however by no means arrived after disappearing on the finish of final week at an airport in Kenya. It was unclear why the masks, produced by a German agency, had been in Kenya.
“What exactly happened, whether this a matter of theft or a provider who isn’t serious, is being cleared up by customs,” a German authorities supply mentioned, asking to not be named.
Spiegel On-line reported Germany has positioned orders price 241 million euros ($260.57 million) with suppliers for protecting and sanitary gear to battle the novel coronavirus.
The defence ministry spokeswoman mentioned there was no monetary affect from the lack of the masks as no cash had been paid.
Germany is making ready its hospitals and well being employees for a giant enhance in admissions of sufferers with the virus. It has 27,436 confirmed coronavirus circumstances and 114 folks have died, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious illnesses mentioned.
Revealed in Daybreak, March 25th, 2020
