Masks Remain In Short Supply In Japan
Face masks have been in short supply in Japan amid the coronavirus outbreak as well as hay fever.
The industry ministry says domestic mask makers are operating around the clock to triple their outputs to about 100-million masks a week.
Along with imports from China, about 110-million masks are available in a week, or about 450-million a month.
Demand for masks at this time of the year is said to be highest at about 100-million a week, as many people are allergic to pollen.
But the coronavirus scare is believed to have boosted demand several times higher than usual.
Some people are believed to be buying up masks to resell them at higher prices, worsening the situation.
A worker at a drug store in Tokyo says only small quantity of packages of several masks are delivered one or two times a week, and they sell out immediately. The situation has continued since early February.
Some shoppers complain that they cannot buy any masks, at a time when their stocks are running out.
In an effort to end the mask shortage, the government plans to increase the monthly supply to 600-million within March.
It will subsidize three makers to help boost their output, and is asking firms in different industries to produce masks. Imports from China that had been stagnant for a while are also expected to increase.
