Two companies to help boost face mask numbers in Shanghai

Two enterprises specializing in face mask production in Shanghai are expected to start production soon to help meet the intense demand for medical protective supplies for frontline medical workers and citizens.

The two enterprises will increase the daily production of surgical masks in the city by an estimated 700,000, the Shanghai drug authority said on Tuesday.

One of the enterprises completed medical device registration and obtained a production certificate for medical surgical masks on Monday. The other company finished its preparation for registration on the same day.

"Another enterprise applying for the certificate to produce medical protective clothing will also go through streamlined administrative and approval processes," said Guo Shuting, deputy director of the city's drug authority.

People across China have been snapping up face masks following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in late January.

The Shanghai government said on Tuesday that it is discussing when to start the new semester for middle and primary schools as well as kindergartens, including private and international ones, in the city. The exact date will be announced to the public soon.

In Shanghai, the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection totaled 219 as of noon on Tuesday, with patients in the city being aged between seven months old and 88 years old. There are currently 229 people in the city who are under medical quarantine and observation.