THE Mayor of Worcester has donated 10,000 masks to a Worcester hospital to help on the frontline during the coronavirus panedmic.

Cllr Allah Ditta, has donated 10,000 masks to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, to help protect NHS staff as they continue to treat patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The masks have been paid for by the Worcester Muslim Cemetery trustees during Ramadan, a time when Muslims are encouraged to carry out charitable acts. “The coronavirus pandemic has been particularly devastating for ethnic minority communities across the UK, who make up 20 per cent of the total NHS workforce,” said the Mayor.

“Trustees at the Worcester Muslim Cemetery have donated generously to my fundraising appeal for 10,000 masks. We’d like to thank everyone working in the frontline at the NHS and all the home carers for your incredible work and bravery.

“I’d also like to remind Worcester’s Muslim community of the importance of maintaining social distancing throughout the period of Ramadan. I know how hard this is, but local people’s efforts to stay at home are helping to save countless lives. We must continue to follow the official advice, in order to prevent a second wave of infection.”

The masks, which are NHS approved, were ordered in from China and were dropped off at the doors of Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester on Tuesday.

He added: “We’re all in this together and we have got to do our bit.

“We just wanted to do this act of kindness. We thought we would do something to show our appreciation.”