Entrepreneur from Campanhã and Porto City Hall assemble surgical masks production unit

Porto City Hall and a local company have developed a project to immediately start producing personal protection masks, surgical type masks, in a sufficient number to municipal workers in close contact with the public to wear and also to be distributed to the Fire Brigades, transport companies, for example, STCP (Bus Company).

This idea sprouted when the entrepreneur from Campanhã phoned the Office of the Mayor of Porto to congratulate the measures taken by the municipality and to make himself available to help the city.

He was later contacted by the Mayor's Office to produce protection materials. Within 24 hours, the entrepreneurs was able to get the appropriate raw material and to direct his line of production, which includes 20 workers, to produce masks.

The number of masks to be manufactures is yet to be assessed but it is estimated that there will be enough masks to cover the basic needs of the municipal workers and also hand out some material to other entities. Porto City Hall ensures all the costs.

In this context, Porto City Hall is studying the possibility to produce individual protection masks to hospitals, should there be a shortage or breakage.

This way, Porto City Hall avoids the speculation around such imported materials and hopes to be able to help protect the many volunteers that are exposed to risk.

Moreover, this also represents a way of boosting national economy, by replacing importing with national production.