An ad hoc solidarity group in Macau has raised 4.66 million patacas (US$584,000) in donations from local individuals, enterprises and organisations for the purchase of medical materials and equipment to help Portugal fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Radio Macau/TDM reported today.
The Portuguese-language radio station of public broadcaster TDM quoted Carlos Alvares, CEO of local Portuguese bank BNU, as confirming the amount. BNU had opened an account for the donation campaign.
The fund-raising campaign was launched by the Macau Solidarity Commission, which comprises a host of local Portuguese community associations, on March 26.
According to the report, the money will be transferred to Portugal's embassy in Beijing which will use it to buy medical materials and equipment in mainland China to be shipped to Portugal to strengthen the anti-COVID-19 measures of Portugal's National Health Service.
According to worldometers.info, Portugal had 13,141 confirmed cases with 380 deaths as of 4:30 p.m. (Macau time) today, a mortality rate of 2.9 percent.
