Deputy Economics Minister Lin Chuan-neng says that Taiwan has been producing 12.6 million surgical masks every day since last week. Lin told lawmakers Monday that at the rate production is growing, Taiwan can expect to be making 13 million masks a day in early April.
Lin said that the government has already brought 60 extra mask-making machines online. They were up and running in just one month, much faster than is the norm for newly-purchased machines.
Taiwan is now working to bring a second group of extra machines into service. It has already received 32 machines and will receive the remaining four it has ordered this week.
Taiwan has a population of over 23 million. To ensure supplies of surgical masks are distributed fairly, it has adopted a rationing system. Under this system, adults may purchase up to three masks every seven days. Allowances for children’s masks are higher, with five masks allotted per week. Prices have been fixed at NT$5 (US$0.16) per mask to keep the masks affordable and prevent price gouging.