Taiwan Mask Stockpile Grows To 55 Days Supply

Surgical Facemasks

Online reports overnight now indicate that Taiwan has a stockpile of surgical masks amounting to a 55 day supply.

The claim, attributed to an announcement by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Tuesday, April 7th, was made in a daily briefing on mask supply and availability.

At present it is believed Taiwan’s online ordering system has seen almost 2 million people register for the latest round of mask deliveries. Of those ordering online, 1.83 million are reported to have already paid the required fees.

At present the limit per person on mask purchase remains at three, although this number will increase to nine from tomorrow, April 9th. The number of masks guardians can pick up for children is 14 in any two week period.

In other mask related news, Taiwan will donate another million masks to nations in need.

Just a week ago Taiwan donated 10 million masks to a combination of 15 diplomatic allies and nations around the world hardest hit by the virus. The majority of the masks went to EU nations and the U.S.

This time, however, the majority of the donated masks will be sent to several of the nations falling under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy program according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is believed this will include India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Mark Buckton

Mark is a journalism vet of 20 years with most of those years spent in Tokyo, Japan, as a columnist for The Japan Times and numerous other publications. His work has appeared on CNN, in the BBC, NPR, and in several dozen other media forms and publications across five continents.