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About 100 Belarusian enterprises reoriented to make face masks
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MINSK, 15 April (BelTA) – About 100 enterprises in Belarus have expanded their product range with face masks. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko made the relevant statement as he visited the lingerie manufacturer SP ZAO Milavitsa on 15 April, BelTA has learned. This company has also started making masks for everyday use.
Igor Petrishenko noted: “About 27 major enterprises have been reoriented and now make medical masks. About 70 small, private companies are involved in the process as subcontractors.”
In his words, the nationwide drugstore chain RUP Belpharmatsiya and the medical goods distribution company UP Belmedtekhnika received about 1 million masks on 14 April. “But the nation needs about 2-3 million masks and we should satisfy the demand, particularly in such a large city Minsk is. This is why we are now making sure that all companies that have sewing enterprises of their own have actively started making masks,” the deputy prime minister explained.
Apart from that, about 500 people are being trained to become garment workers in Minsk and the oblast capitals. “They represent an additional reserve we will tap into by getting our light industry enterprises to operate in several shifts,” Igor Petrishenko said.
As for Milavitsa, Igor Petrishenko specified that the company started making masks on 9 April when the relevant task was set. “Taking into account the materials available as part of the core business, the company has expanded the product range with masks that are popular and affordable. The company now makes 23,000-25,000 masks per day and can raise the output up to 40,000. But we would like Milavitsa to make 60,000 or possibly 80,000 masks per day,” Igor Petrishenko added.
The official pointed out that healthcare institutions work with Belmedtekhnika Company to get masks that have passed the relevant registration process. The number of masks made in Belarus is insufficient for now, this is why some are imported. However, Belarusian medics have all the masks they need, Igor Petrishenko assured. All the medics now wear masks while those, who interact with COVID-19 patients, are supplied with respirators. “We’ve started making them at the enterprises Tekhnika Svyazi and Izotop and some are imported from China. Contracts to get more deliveries have been signed, the necessary reserves are available,” Igor Petrishenko said.
Apart from that, some light industry enterprises make special clothes such as lab coats, shoe wrappers, goggles, and scrub caps. The enterprises include Elema, Comintern, and enterprises of the Punishment Execution Department of the Belarusian Internal Affairs Ministry. Some enterprises have also started making face shields for medics.
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