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Government to stockpile anti-SARS gear

The Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday that it is working towards stockpiling a 30-day supply of gear necessary to fight SARS.

Ministry officials said that to build up the 30-day stockpile, which they expect to reach by the end of next month, they will require 3 million N95 masks used by medical care staff, 25 million surgical masks for the public and 1.5 million protective suits.

The officials said that a 10-day stockpile will be put in major hospitals around the nation and the Department of Health will keep the rest.

With the outbreak of SARS leveling off in recent days , the officials said that the ministry is coordinating with other agencies to reassess the need for N95 masks.

In the initial stage of the SARS outbreak in this country, medical workers complained about not having enough N95 masks and protective suits. But after emergency purchases from other countries, the supply is back to normal.

Meanwhile, the Fair Trade Commission unveiled a list of 12 shops which will be fined after being accused of price gouging over face masks.

The commission also fined a pharmacy in Taishan, Taipei County, NT$80,000 (US$2,285) for selling fake N95 masks.
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