Covid-19: Countries recall masks imported from China

Spain, Netherlands, Turkey and Australia have already returned China-made masks.

Finland became the latest country to raise concerns over Chinese-made masks after they found the first shipment of surgical and respirator masks did not meet the required standards of protection.

Finland bought from China two million surgical masks and 230,000 respirator masks amidst the Covid-19 crises to meet their need of about half a million surgical masks and 50,000 respirator masks per day.

Following the inappropriate consignment from China, Finnish health minister, Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, said that the Chinese masks would only be possible to use in residential care facilities and for carers making home visits .

At present Finland has asked three domestic companies to manufacture 200,000 masks a day, with production due to begin at the end of this month.

In recent weeks, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey and Australia have returned Chinese-bought masks, reported The Indian Express.

While Toronto on Wednesday returned at least 62,600 surgical masks that they received from China on March 28. According to the official statement, the order worth $200,000 was returned to the vendor on the assurance of full refund after reports emerged of the masks ripping and tearing.

Following several countries returning the China-made masks, the country's government defended themselves saying that nations have not "double checked" the products before purchasing. Earlier this week, China's foreign affairs ministry claimed in a tweet that Chinese manufactures have explicitly stated "they are non-surgical."