HomeMy WebLinkAboutMedia Advisory - Clean Hands Across Edina Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • jbennerotte@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Clean Hands Across Edina: City Employees Bottle Hand Sanitizer for At-Risk Residents
Edina, Minn., April 24, 2020 – Prevention of COVID-19 includes good hygiene. At times, hand washing isn’t possible and as an alternate, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer makes a suitable
substitution. There is currently a shortage of hand sanitizer due to COVID-19. Edina is home to many at-risk residents and congregate care facilities that are in need of hand sanitizer.
Recently, the FDA relaxed rules for ethanol-based hand sanitizer production. As a result, local and national distilleries are producing a WHO- and FDA-approved mix. However, these organizations
do not have the equipment, labor or materials for mass distribution. The City of Edina currently has staff to fill the role of bottling and distribution. The City acquired ethanol-based
hand sanitizer by the drum (55 gallons), and has filled and distributed bottles of the product to those in need. There is also supply to fill the City’s own needs within its buildings.
What: The City of Edina is bottling hand sanitizer to distribute to congregate care facilities and some residents most at risk for COVID-19. As part of the project, nearly 5,000 four-ounce
spray bottles labeled with “#EdinaTogether” are being distributed.
Who: City of Edina employees bottled the hand sanitizer. It is being distributed this week to congregate care facilities and homes of other individuals by the Edina Police Department.
Where: The bottling occurred at the Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility, which is currently closed to the public.
When: Bottling operations were conducted April 15-17. Distribution began April 23.
Why: The City cares about its residents and wants to do what it can to protect those at risk. Hand sanitizer is currently in short supply; congregate care facilities and those at risk
might not have access to the product. Though the City cannot bottle hand sanitizer for all residents, it wants to do what it can to slow the spread of the disease in our community.
To arrange interviews, contact Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte, 952-833-9520 or jbennerotte@EdinaMN.gov.
To keep employees safe, photography and videography will not be allowed inside the Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility. Instead, contact Video Production Coordinator Scott Denfeld,
952-903-5776 or sdenfeld@EdinaMN.gov, for images and B-roll.
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