China Says It Has Sent Medical Supplies to 83 Countries

March 26, 2020

China Says It Has Sent Medical Supplies to 83 Countries

China has provided medical supplies, including face masks and test kits, to 83 countries fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a State Council Information Office press conference Thursday.

As the pandemic intensifies worldwide, many Chinese companies have shifted to export-oriented production. According to financial news outlet CLS, several companies manufacturing face masks saw their shares hit the daily trading limit on Wednesday due to increasing demand from abroad. In March, China entered into agreements with Italy and South Korea to provide 8 million and 10 million masks, respectively, leaving some in China worried that the domestic stock might suffer.

Workers transport medical supplies donated from China at an airport in Manila, Philippines, March 21, 2020. Yang Ke/Xinhua

Ye Jiajia, a project manager at Zhende Medical Co. Ltd., which cooperates with the Chinese government to produce 1.5 million face masks per day, told Sixth Tone that since being asked earlier this month to send a large shipment of masks to Italy, the company is now focused on allocating supplies domestically.

“Even if the COVID-19 outbreak has slowed down in China, masks are still needed here,” said Ye. “Soon schools will resume. We need to keep up the supply.”