By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

The Grupo Presidente hotel chain, in cooperation with Fundación Gigante, will be donating 60,000 full meals to doctors, nurses and other health workers who are fighting the covid-19 epidemic at the Ismael Cosío Villegas National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) in México City, the hotel chain announced on Wednesday, May 6.

The meals began being delivered on Monday, May 4, and will continue to be sent to the hospital — which is Mexico’s frontline defense against the spread of the virus — through Sunday, May 31.

The INER is one of the country’s most important specialized health institutions and 100 percent of its staff is currently focusing on treating covid-19 patients, especially those who are in critical condition.

The donated meals are being prepared by Presidente Intercontinental Polanco executive chef Stephan Thomas and his team of 15 sous chefs, who normally oversee the hotel’s banquet services, and will include breakfasts, lunches and dinners to will be delivered to the INER twice a day.

The meals will be delivered by Grupo Presidente personnel dressed in appropriate personal protections equipment (ppe) in vehicles which are thoroughly sanitized before and after every delivery.

“Each meal is designed by a nutritionist to ensure that the INER staff receives the proper calories and nutrients they need to stay healthy,” said Thomas.

“And, of course, the meals are prepared under the strictest of hygiene and sanitation protocols, and packaged in sterilized containers.”

Thomas said that Grupo Presidente and Fundación Gigante are making the donations as a token of gratitude for the health workers who daily risk their lives to help patients battling coronavirus infections.