Taiwan gives Wyoming 50,000 face masks for COVID-19 effort

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming has received 50,000 protective face masks from the Taiwanese government to protect health care workers and others from the coronavirus, Gov. Mark Gordon said.

"We will be distributing those masks soon to where they are needed most. We thank the people of Taiwan for their support of Wyoming," Gordon wrote in a Facebook post.

The U.S. government has provided far fewer masks, gloves and other protective items than Wyoming has requested and in some cases has diverted requested supplies for use elsewhere in the U.S., the Casper Star-Tribune reports.

Taiwan has maintained a close relationship with Wyoming in recent years. Wyoming opened a trade office in Taipei in 2018 in a bid to boost exports including beef.

A Taiwanese official addressed Wyoming lawmakers at the Capitol earlier this year.