In one of the most densely populated cities on earth, face masks have become hot property as people scramble for protection against the new deadly coronavirus. Elase Wong, a tailor, said she was giving away her face mask sewing design. Currently in the testing phase, the device will produce 60-80 surgical masks per minute from Saturday in a dust-free room. Since Sars, which Beijing initially covered up, Hong Kongers have embraced higher communal hygiene standards and face masks have long been a common sight, especially during the winter flu season. In a tightly packed city like Hong Kong, new viruses will "spread like wildfire if nobody wears a mask", he said.

Source: Bangkok Post February 21, 2020 08:15 UTC