José Andrés Donating 4,000 Masks To Hospitals: Coronavirus

BETHESDA, MD — José Andrés, a celebrity chef from Bethesda whose nonprofit has fed millions of natural disaster victims, is now lending a hand to those on the frontlines of the coronavirus battle.

On Monday, the Spanish-American restauranteur announced plans to donate 4,000 N95 masks to George Washington Hospital, Medstar Washington, and other medical centers in the D.C. area.

Andrés said he ordered the personal protective equipment when his nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, was feeding passengers and crews aboard quarantined cruise ships.

Hospitals nationwide are facing a critical shortage of face masks and other personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In the past few weeks, a number of celebrities — including fashion designer and Annapolis native Christian Siriano — have offered to supply more face masks to health workers in hospitals.

On Twitter, Andrés called on government leaders to make sure health care workers have all the personal protective equipment they need.

"Our government must make sure all healthcare workers have the PPE they need! In meantime, we will help however we can," Andrés tweeted.

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