Residents and traders donate to coronavirus battle

COMMUNITY spirit is not lacking on the Costa – even though members of said community cannot see each other in person.

The local Chinese expat contingent in El Verger has just donated four large boxes of masks, surgical gloves and hand sanitiser to the Guardia Civil, local police, civil protection squad, health centre and town hall, whilst the town's local police force sent a bunch of flowers to medical workers in the village.

Pedreguer's designer shopping trolley firm Rolser has been cutting out cotton mask templates, with rubber straps, and is actively seeking volunteers to sew them.

Rolser has already handed out 5,000 cut-outs to helpers, which have mostly been put together and returned, and was due to dish out another 10,000 yesterday.

As the masks are non-disposable, they can be washed at a high temperature after every use, preventing a shortage.

Once ready, they will be given to nursing homes, GP clinics and hospitals, where they will be sterilised before use.

And an undisclosed Dénia business-owner has offered to pay for all Covid-19 tests for residents and staff at the town's Santa Llúcia nursing home.

Dénia's mayor Vicent Grimalt says some local taxes will not be charged, others will be subject to payment holidays or instalments, and funds have been set aside to help residents struggling financially.

Like most town halls at present, Dénia's is now operating by telephone or online only, and anyone who is in serious trouble or who thinks they may be entitled to payment exemptions or postponement should contact them as soon as possible.