Kuang Nan Fashion Shop offering 500,000 free face masks to customers across Taiwan starting Friday

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/05
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Due to a severe shortage of face masks and in the wake of a new rationing system announced by the government, wholesale retailer Kuang Nan Fashion Shop (光南大批發-連鎖店) on Tuesday (Feb. 4) announced that it will be offering 500,000 free face masks at multiple branches across Taiwan by the end of the week.

As the fear of the Wuhan virus gripping Taiwan leads to panic buying, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on Monday (Feb. 3) that it will implement a new rationing system for face masks that requires Taiwan residents to present their National Health Insurance (NHI) cards when purchasing masks at the over 6,000 drugstores and pharmacies that contract with the NHI, reported Liberty Times. In addition, consumers will be limited to only buying two masks per week (7 days).

In response, Kuang Nan on Tuesday announced on its Facebook page that it will distribute half a million face masks to a number of its stores across Taiwan to help those who have been unable to acquire an adequate amount. The masks will be available at select Kuang Nan stores on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 7 and 8) with customers limited to five masks each.    [FULL  STO-RY8]