Polish and Czech authorities are said to have seized two deliveries from China destined for Italy. The material – including around 680,000 respirators and thousands of ventilators – is said to have already been distributed in Czech hospitals.
The fight against the corona virus seems to be putting the solidarity within the EU to the test: As the Italian daily “La Repubblica” reported on Sunday, respiratory masks and respirators are said to have been confiscated by authorities at the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic.
Two independent transports were confiscated at the respective borders, which were actually intended for Italy. The first delivery from China was 680,000 masks and thousands of ventilators. Czech officials are said to have retained them. A delivery with 23,000 masks to the Lazio region was also stopped in Poland.
Especially in the north of Italy, which is severely affected by the corona virus, there is currently a dramatic shortage of masks and ventilators. In addition to the apparent lack of solidarity – Italy is currently the most affected country in the world – it is also irritating that the deliveries should have been labeled as humanitarian aid.
“Serious and absurd incident”
The Italian health authorities described the procedure as a “serious and absurd” incident. The newspaper went on to say that the material had been stolen in the Czech Republic and therefore confiscated in the Czech media. However, the Italian and Chinese flags were clearly visible in the photos. The material has already been distributed in Czech hospitals.
Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamáček admitted on Twitter that an error had occurred because a “small part” of the delivery was intended as a humanitarian delivery to Italy. According to “La Repubblica”, a new delivery from China is now to deliver the material quickly.
There were also upsets between Germany and Austria last week, after a truck with material already paid for was stopped at the border [premium].
(Ed.)
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