Days after the first batch of health kits, including masks, wipes and medicine arrived at a Chinese embassy facility, the delivery of those goods to over 3,000 students across the Washington D.C. area began the morning of Monday, April 13. 

In addition to basic protective items, every health kit comes with a brochure outlining health and safety tips during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as a card with a QR code on it. 

By scanning this code, a video message plays from the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai, in which he emphasizes the embassy's role in helping overseas citizens and encourages students to act in unity by addressing each other's needs. 

Many universities in the Washington area, including George Washington University, suspended in-person classes in March and many students were forced to find alternative housing. For the students' convenience and to help practice social distancing, the embassy decided to have these health kits delivered individually.  

Officials from the embassy also visited students studying at Gallaudet University, the world's only university dedicated solely to serving deaf and hearing impaired students. 

Deliveries were made for free in partnership with HungryPanda, a Britain-based delivery service catering to Chinese population s around the globe. The company is expected to make over 350 deliveries daily and many more will likely take place after additional supplies arrive in the U.S.  

This first round of supply distribution comes amid a continued rise in U.S. confirmed COVID-19 cases, more than 590,000 as of April 14, according to the Johns Hopkins University, with more than 24,000 deaths. 

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