BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 5
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend
Iran will produce 4 million masks per day by the end of the first month of the current Iranian year (starting March 20), said Iran's Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Reza Rahmani, Trend reports citing the ministry.
According to Rahmani, before the spread of the coronavirus in Iran (February 19), the potential for the production of masks was 700,000 units per day and production was 300,000 units.
Rahmani added that production was maximized, taking into account the potential shortage and currently, about 1 million masks are produced daily.
The minister said in addition, about 20 million masks were imported during this period and the same number of masks were ordered.
"The production of detergents has increased by 8 times, alcohol production by 20 times and gloves production has doubled since February 20 in Iran," he said.
According to the minister, Iran's largest mining and industrial companies have donated 1.36 trillion rials (about $ 32.3 million). As a result, Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) purchased more than 10 million masks and handed over to the Iranian Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education.
In total, more than 15.2 million masks have been produced in Iran due to the spread of coronavirus, according to the March 31 statistics of the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade. During that period, 16.1 million masks were imported to Iran. As many as 6 million liters of alcohol were produced during the period and more than 13 million liters of alcohol were distributed in total. During that period, 280 tons of alcohol were imported and 1,000 tons of alcohol were ordered to be imported.
Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 55,700 people have been infected, 3,452 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 19,700 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.