Production of gauze face masks launched in Belarus' Bobruisk
The Slavyanka clothing manufacturer based in Bobruisk launched production of gauze face masks, Slavyanka Director Teimuraz Bochorishvili told BelTA.
"In view of the outbreak of the new coronavirus, we have started to make four-layer gauze face masks to provide Belarusians with personal protective equipment and prevent panic," Teimuraz Bochorishvili said. "This year we have added another protective layer to block even more small particles. So far, we have produced around 62,000 face masks and intend to ship 62,000 more today," he added.
According to Teimuraz Bochorishvili, gauze masks are better that the ones made from non-woven fabric. Face masks from natural cotton do not cause allergy or damage skin because of sweat. Moreover, such face masks are multi-use. "They can be washed, ironed and used until they wear out, and then disposed of easily as cotton is biodegradable. Masks from non-woven fabrics are single-use and cannot be recycled. The epidemic will pass, but harm to the nature will remain," Teimuraz Bochorishvili stressed.
The clothing manufacturer in Bobruisk already produced personal protection equipment in 2009, during the epidemic of the H1N1 influenza.
Slavyanka is one of the largest enterprises of the Belarusian light industry. It specializes in making clothes for adults and children and is designed to produce around 600,000 items a year.