Sharp plans to start making face masks at one of its factories in Japan in response to growing demand sparked byepidemic coronavirus, refers the Associated Press.
The plant responsible for manufacturing masks is located in Kameyama, in Mie prefecture. It is usually used for the mass production of large LCD panels and for the assembly of televisions.
From TVs to masks
Sharp will produce 150.000 masks per day by the end of this month, increasing production to 500.000 per day. The structure was chosen for the production of masks by virtue of the high standards of cleanliness. Sharp, a company owned by Foxconn, has not yet opted for pricing or distribution plans for the masks.
A daily product
Face masks are a common item in Japan, especially in winter when many people wear them to help prevent the spread of disease. But since the coronavirus outbreak began they have been hard to find, as have other household items such as toilet paper, with most retailers limiting shoppers to a single package at a time.
In some countries outside of Japan, where masks are less common in stores, sellers have raised prices in online marketplaces.
The American surgeon Jerome Adams he urged the public not to increase demand in a tweet over the weekend.
WHO guidelines say healthy people should only wear masks if they are caring for someone suspected of being infected with the coronavirus.
