ING Press Release
25 March 2020
The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes Joins the Fight Against COVID-19 on La Palma
The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) joins the fight against the coronavirus COVID-19 on the island of La Palma with the delivery of masks, full-body overalls and boot covers to the Geriatric Hospital Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores of Santa Cruz de La Palma. Specifically, 950 surgical-type 3-layer polypropylene masks, 144 full-body overalls in various sizes and 100 polythene boot covers have been delivered.
The Administrative Director of the Hospital Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores, José Ángel Ruiz Pino, and the head of Education, Health and Handicraft of the Cabildo de La Palma, Susana Machín Rodríguez, expressed thanks, on behalf of the workers and patients for this large delivery from the ING, which they considered "a gesture of collaboration, support and solidarity in these moments of such difficulty".
At the telescopes, the masks, overalls and boots are used in areas that must be completely free of even the smallest dust particles, in order to keep the optical surfaces clean.
Marc Balcells, director of the ING said: "We consulted with the personnel of the Hospital Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores about the suitability of this equipment for protecting the health workers from the coronavirus and an immediate decision was made to donate the material that had just been purchased to supply ING for years to come. We wish the health workers the best in this fight which affects us all."
