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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
Lifestyle
Asharq Al-Awsat

Italian Police Red-Faced over Pink COVID Masks

People wait to get a dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the day Italy brings in tougher rules for the unvaccinated, at a Red Cross vaccination center by Termini main train station in Rome, Italy, January 10, 2022. (Reuters)

Italian police have protested to the interior ministry after being sent pink health masks to wear on duty, saying the color risked damaging their reputation.

"We do not understand the reason behind the purchase of masks in a color that would appear at first sight to be unsuitable for our administration," the police union wrote in a letter to the interior ministry.

"This purchase is puzzling," the letter said, adding that two years into the COVID-19 health crisis it should be easy to purchase appropriate face masks.

In future, masks should only be black, white or blue, they said.

There was no immediate comment from the interior ministry.

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