Slovak municipality takes anti-virus measures into its own hands

The Snina municipal social enterprise has begun sewing protective masks for locals

The Slovak municipality of Snina has taken upon itself to protect the lives and health of locals in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak. The lack of protective masks in pharmacies and their egregious prices in online retailers forced local authorities to redirect their efforts toward providing their constituents with the essential protective gear.

Shifting the gears of production

In order to ensure ample supply of protective masks that are readily available to citizens at affordable prices, local authorities of Snina decreed that the Snina Social Enterprise will shift gears onto the sewing and the productions of the headwear.

The municipality’s tailor shop is producing masks made out of 100% cotton. They are also completely reusable, according to local authorities, and can be washed without getting damaged.

The most important thing about them, however, is the fact that they are handed out at a controlled price – stipulated by the local government of Snina.

The price for shipping to your home is 1.50 euros, while the price for the masks themselves can range between 1.99 euros to 2.69 euros, depending on the type of protective headgear you order – be it single-layer or double-layer.

The masks manufactured by the municipal company will become available to citizens tomorrow, 17 March and can be purchased from the local offices. They can also be ordered by calling the numbers displayed at the municipality’s website.

Until citizens are able to secure their own masks, local authorities are eager to point out that locals should take any alternative measures that they deem necessary – including wearing headscarves over their noses and mouths in order to protect the more vulnerable parts of the population – like the elderly and the sickly.

And as the Snina local government put it – “There is no shame to behave responsibly and think of others.”