Government: "Masks, 1.46 million supplied to 수도권, 1.68 million to TK"

On the 2nd, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, citizens are lining up to buy masks at Haengbokhan Department Store in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] According to the Emergency Mask Supply Adjustment Measures, 5,877,000 masks were supplied nationwide to public sales outlets on the 2nd, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced. Under this measure, domestic mask manufacturers must supply more than half of their daily production to public sales outlets such as the Korea Post, Nonghyup Hanaro Mart, Public Home Shopping, and pharmacies.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the supply volume, which was about 2.04 million on the previous holiday, increased nearly threefold on this day. The number of masks supplied to the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions in one day was counted at 1,679,000. This figure includes the special supply portion received by Daegu City Hall, designated as a special infectious disease management area. About 250,000 masks were supplied to pharmacies, and 300,000 masks were supplied to medical institutions. The Korea Post and Hanaro Mart in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions each received 210,000 masks.

In the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, 1,458,000 masks were supplied. Pharmacies received the largest share with about 1.17 million masks, Hanaro Mart received 160,000, and the Korea Post received about 56,000 masks. Seoul Happy Department Store and Seoul Station Myeongpum Maru each received 50,000 and 20,000 masks, respectively. Excluding Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and the metropolitan area, about 950,000 masks were shipped to pharmacies, and supplies were made to the Korea Post (384,000) and Hanaro Mart (330,000).

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "To encourage increased mask production, related ministries are jointly organizing the maximum capabilities and systems that each ministry can provide," adding, "We are making various efforts to increase production through the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety system, such as using delivery vehicles and on-site personnel support related to the Ministry of National Defense, and conducting quality inspections afterward."

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