COVID-19: Saudi authorities seize 2,000 illegally manufactured cloth masks
The substandard PPE lacks the central filtration layer and could be a health risk
Abu Dhabi: Saudi authorities have seized more than 2,000 cloth masks that were illegally manufactured amid the coronavirus outbreak, Saudi media reported Friday.
The commerce ministry seized 2,000 substandard masks from unscrupulous expatriates in Mecca, who are taking undue advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by producing personal protective equipment without any prior expertise or certification from testing agencies, potentially risking the health of unsuspecting buyers, Sabq reported.
The ministry said the people behind such activities would be prosecuted.
The 3-ply masks made by many fly-by-night manufacturers are substandard and often lack the central filtration layer, several manufacturers, health experts and a government official said on condition of anonymity.
Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of the deadly disease at home.
Saudi Health Ministry reported 4,757 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 145,991 on Thursday (June 18).
The ministry reported 2,253 recoveries on Thurday, with total recoveries in the kingdom at 93,915. 1,877 are in intensive care units.
The ministry also confirmed 48 deaths, its highest single-day spike, taking the toll to 1,139, the highest in the Gulf region.