A municipal government in China has donated 40,000 medical-grade face masks to Maryland's capital city amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The donations from central China's Changsha were first offered to Annapolis city officials in April, when the need for the masks among public safety workers was high in the early days of the pandemic, Annapolis City Manager David Jarrell said in a news release Tuesday.

They arrived in August, with one of the boxes featuring strikers of U.S. and Chinese national flags with a message that read: "Go, City of Annapolis! Best Wishes from Changsha! True unity inspires people to work as one to overcome adversity," local news outlet The Capital Gazette reported.

The shipment also accompanied a note from Xia Yani, a representative in the Chinese city's foreign affairs office. "We sincerely wish you and everyone in Annapolis continued good health, and the fortitude to persevere during this challenging period," Xia's note read.

The friendly relationship between Annapolis and Changsha has run for more than a decade. The two municipalities are now sister cities.

"These masks help in transportation, public works, recreation and parks, among others," said Kevin Simmons, director of the Annapolis' Office of Emergency Management. About 20,000 masks will be distributed to public safety employees while another 20,000 will be given based on need, the newspaper reported.

More than 98,000 people have contracted the virus in Maryland, and more than 3,600 have died, while the trend of daily new infections remains unabated. 

Expressing his gratitude for the donations, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley sent Changsha officials another gift: a book of photographs of Annapolis.

"International friendships like this bridge divides," Buckley said in the release. "I'm grateful for the gift of the masks, but I'm even more grateful for what it says about the hopefulness of the human condition."

"These masks help in Transportation, Public Works, and Recreation and Parks, among others," said Kevin Simmons, director of the Annapolis' Office of Emergency Management. About 20,000 masks will be distributed to public safety employees while another 20,000 will be given based on need, the newspaper reported.

More than 98,000 people have contracted the virus in Maryland, and more than 3,600 have died, while the trend of daily new infections remains unabated. 

Expressing his gratitude for the donations, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley sent Changsha officials another gift: a book of photographs of Annapolis.

"International friendships like this bridge divides," Buckley said in the release. "I'm grateful for the gift of the masks, but I'm even more grateful for what it says about the hopefulness of the human condition."

This April, a donation of 1,000 ventilators were sent to New York from China. The Joseph and Clara Tsai Foundation and the Jack Ma Foundation also donated 1 million surgical masks, 1 million KN95 masks and more than 100,000 pairs of goggles to the state. 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo thanked the Chinese government for helping facilitate the donation of 1,000 ventilators that arrived in JFK (Airport) later. He also thanked Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping for "his help in making all of this happen."