The C&A group has recovered, at European level, a total of 240,000 masks initially intended for C&A employees in China. Due to the confinement linked to the coronavirus imposed there, these masks were ultimately not distributed. The firm has therefore recovered and distributed them in several European countries, including France. In France, the textile company has decided to offer 36,000 surgical masks to caregivers and law enforcement.
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As of Thursday, March 26, 24,000 masks have been delivered to three public hospitals in Seine-et-Marne: Meaux, Coulommiers and Marne-la-Vallée. Regarding the police, C&A France has entrusted 12,000 masks to the national officials of the Alliance union. "It is a gesture of national solidarity. We have chosen to protect those who protect us," C&A France managing director Damien Defforey told Europe 1.
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Alliance calls for donations
These 12,000 masks for the police are currently in the offices of the Alliance union which acts as an intermediary to redistribute them. "We are trying to do what the government has not been able to do. It is unconscious, irresponsible to patrol colleagues who must enforce confinement without the necessary protective equipment. It is their health, "a danger to their families. It’s just to do our job simply, to protect our colleagues and protect fellow citizens," said Alliance secretary general Fabien Vanhemelryck.
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His union is also more broadly appealing for donations from other large companies which would also like to offer masks for the police. Alliance announces that it has opened a specially dedicated email address to receive proposals from other companies: sosmasques@alliancepn.fr. The trade union organization intends to entrust this equipment to the Ministry of the Interior so that it can redistribute it to the police officers.
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