Turkey Sends Protective Equipment to the U.S.

▶️Turkish defense ministry handout video shows a Turkish military plane has dispatched a planeload of personal protective equipment to support the United States as it grapples with the coronavirus outbreak.

A Turkish military cargo plane carrying the medical equipment took off from an airbase near the capital Ankara on Tuesday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. A top official said Turkey is sending 500,000 surgical masks, 4,000 overalls, 2,000 liters of disinfectant, 1,500 goggles, 400 N-95 masks, and 500 face shields.

Turkey has sent similar medical equipment aid to a total of 55 countries – including Britain, Italy, and Spain – in an apparent attempt to improve its global standing by positioning itself as a provider of humanitarian aid in times of crisis.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his government is working on a detailed plan to ease coronavirus restrictions, but warned that weekend lockdowns would most likely continue until after the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in May. As of Tuesday, Turkey announced 112,261 confirmed cases and 2,900 deaths.