Recently it was revealed that Taiwan company Carry Mask (加利科技) imported face masks made in China, relabeled and repackaged them as domestically-manufactured masks and sold them to consumers in the market (masks labeled “Carry Mask” in the bottom-right corner). Upon investigation, we have confirmed that Tainan’s real-name mask rationing system is not supplied by Carry Mask, which mainly supplied to New Taipei City and Yilan and sparsely to Taipei City. Citizens of Tainan City do not have to worry about these counterfeit masks and may continue to purchases masks at the city’s pharmacies and health bureaus that are part of the real-name mask rationing network.
To better understand the overall supply and production of face masks, including raw material supply, Mayor Huang Wei-Che paid a visit to KNH Enterprise (康那香), one of the largest face mask manufacturers in Tainan. The Mayor also expressed gratitude to the company for joining Taiwan’s “National Face Mask Team” at the onset of the outbreak and for providing staunch support for the government’s pandemic prevention and control efforts.
KNH Enterprise manufactures meltblown nonwoven fabric, which is the key filtration layer in a face mask that protects against viruses, germs, droplets and dust, also called the “heart of the mask.” Even before the outbreak, KNH has steadily purchased polypropylene (PP), the main raw material for meltblown nonwoven fabric, and thus it not affected by fluctuations in the international market. KNH also expressed it sense of honor for being a member of the “National Face Mask Team” and for contributing to safeguarding the health of all citizens.
Mayor Huang Wei-Che also reminds the public to stay vigilant. Mask-wearing is strictly required when visiting the eight following venues: medical and health care institutions, public transportation, marketplaces, entertainment venues, education and learning venues, performance, exhibition and competition venues, religious places, large-scale events, as well as sites and locations designated by the Central Epidemic Command Center or the Public Health Bureau.