Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/21/2020
By: Wu Po-wei and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, March 21 (CNA) Local manufacturers of instant noodles and toilet paper have pledged to boost production amid public fears of shortages of basic household items due to the new coronavirus outbreak, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs on Saturday.

The ministry said in a Facebook post that during a meeting with the manufacturers Saturday, they pledged to run their production lines around the clock for the next two weeks to meet a surge in demand.

Participating instant noodle providers included Uni-President and Wei Lih Food Industrial Co., while toilet paper suppliers included YFY Inc., Cheng Loong Corp. and Golden Century Paper, the ministry said.

Taiwan has seen a panic run on food and basic household items — with toilet paper at the top of the list — after the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus surged above 100 earlier this week.    [FULL  STORY]