COVID-19 crisis: US denies diverting shipment of masks bound for Germany

A spokesperson for United States in Thailand reportedly denied diverting a shipment of face masks, which was bound for Germany, from an airport in Bangkok. comment by US embassy spokesperson comes after Berlin Secretary of Interior, Andreas Geisel, said that an order of approximately 200,000 masks bound for Germany had been confiscated in Bangkok and diverted to US. Geisel furr also called it an ‘act of modern piracy’. 

However, while speaking to an international media outlet, US embassy spokesperson said that US government did t take any action to divert any 3M supplies that were destined to Germany. spokesperson also added that y did t even have any kwledge of such shipment. Furrmore, embassy said that y also remain concerned about pervasive attempts to divide international efforts through ‘unsourced, unattributed, disinformation campaign’. 

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‘ act of piracy'

US President Donald Trump also shunned  accusations and reportedly said that ‘re had been act of piracy’. Although, Geisel said that consignment had been ‘confiscated’ in Bangkok and added that it was still trying to clarify circumstances of how masks, which were ordered form a German wholesaler, diverted. Meanwhile, US allies from Europe and South America have also reportedly complained about ‘Wild West; tactics and said that Washington has employed to outbid or block shipments of medical supplies to original buyers. 

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accusations come at a time when leaders around world are scrambling to secure protective gear to battle coronavirus pandemic. US itself has been struggling to with insufficiency of ventilators and or medical equipment. Trump also said that his administration is taking new action to ensure that America has medical resources and equipment needed to fight global pandemic. 

Meanwhile, coronavirus, which originated in China in December 2019, has w claimed over 70,000 lives worldwide as of April 6. According to tally by international news ncy, pandemic has w spread to 208 countries and territories and has infected more than one million people. Out of total infections, 271,000 have been recovered but easily spread virus is continuing to disrupt many lives. Major cities have been put under lockdown in almost all countries including Spain, and ecomy is struggling. 

(Im source: Unsplash) 

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