People line up to get two fabric masks each from a bus donated by Dony International Joint Stock Company at the Youth Cultural House in HCM City’s District 1. – Photo vnexpress.net

 HCM CITY – A ‘face mask bus’ has been going around HCM City, dispensing high-quality face masks for free.

Painted bright yellow, it has a sensor that automatically sprays hand sanitiser first when someone puts their hand in before coming up with the mask.

People have to stand in a queue and keep a distance of two metres from others.

The vehicle has travelled to some crowded places like Miền Tây and Miền Đông bus stations, several industrial zones, the cultural house in Tân Bình District and other public places.

It was launched on February 6.

Phạm Quang Anh, director of Dony International Joint Stock Company, came up with the idea six months ago when COVID-19 was raging.

The masks it dispenses are certified as meeting Germany’s REACH standards for protecting human health and the environment.

They can be reused several times, reducing the impact on the environment, Anh said.

Beside donations from sponsors, Dony also plans to spend 5 per cent of its revenues on providing the masks.

The bus also plans to travel to Hải Dương Province, a COVID-19 hotspot.– VNS