Focus Taiwan
Date: 09/04/2020
By: William Yen,
Chang Ming-hsuan and Sunrise Huang

(Updated to reflect government reversal on where masks can be exchanged)

Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) Consumers who have purchased China-made masks through the government's surgical face mask rationing program can return them starting Friday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.

Tsai Shou-chuan (蔡壽洤), a health official and head of the CECC division responsible for materials and supplies, said the masks, which have a "Carry Mask" logo can be returned and swapped for masks made in Taiwan.

The exchanges can be done until Sept. 11 at national health insurance-contracted pharmacies and clinics, major convenience stores, drugstore chain Cosmed, and supermarket chain PX Mart, the CECC said earlier Friday.

Tsai later reversed course, however, saying that exchanges could only be made through national health insurance-contracted pharmacies and clinics because private retailers did not have enough masks on hand to provide replacements to consumers.    [FULL  STORY]