Reports of ministry hoarding 200 million face masks 'based on a misunderstanding'

[webfact]

Reports of ministry hoarding 200 million face masks 'based on a misunderstanding'

By The Nation

 

Boonyarit Kalayanamit

 

Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Boonyarit Kalayanamit said on Monday (March 30) that the government has changed the face mask distribution plan by transferring the responsibility to the Ministry of Interior. One million masks will be distributed to medical teams and volunteer nurses nationwide every day, starting from 5pm on Monday.

 

As for the face mark shortage, the Commerce Ministry has invited 11 manufacturers who had received FDA certificates to help with the production. The current capacity is 1.2 million pieces a day.

 

Responding to reports of the ministry stocking up 200 million face masks, he said the news was wrong and it was a mistake in communication.

He explained that the number was an estimate of the total masks that could be produced without importing green filter from China or other countries. At that time, the companies had shown their stock of filter to the ministry, which estimated that they could continue to produce up to around 200 million face masks.

 

Boonyarit revealed that they could produce 36 million face masks per month, of which 30 million were for medical staff. If the virus situation aggravates, ordinary people would need green face masks. At first, the Commerce Ministry asked them to send 50 per cent of daily production to the ministry while the other half would be part of their normal business due to the high demand.

 

“We could not control that 50 per cent. The factory was sending a smaller amount of face masks to hospitals without reason. Later, there was an announcement to send all face masks to the Commerce Ministry to manage the stock and send it to people who need it on a priority. The ministry asked factories to produce more and stop the export of face masks,” the permanent secretary said.

 

Boonyarit added that the current capacity of face mask production had increased to 2.3 million pieces per day. “This means we have only one face mask for 28 people. Face mask is a single-use product unlike other products that can be reused."

 

Source: http://www.nationthailand.com/news/30385120

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-31

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[johng]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

“This means we have only one face mask for 28 people. Face mask is a single-use product unlike other products that can be reused."

 

Ohh dear  how is everyone supposed to wear a face mask  if there is only enough for 1 in 38 people ??

[brucec64]

And where did all the eggs go?

[nausea]

Pathetic, Rome burns and Nero fiddles, and I don't mean in the sense of playing a violin.

[monkfish]

They had plenty of time to think that excuse up they should have said that months ago now they expect people to believe it?

Edited March 31, 2020 by monkfish

[Somtamnication]

In farangland, they call that fuzzy math.

[Forza2002]

These Ministers haven't got a clue what the daily mask production is. One minute he is saying 1.1 million daily, then later he says 2.3....

[DaveE13]

Just  misunderstanding, same as fattys watch collection 

[RJRS1301]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

As for the face mark shortage, the Commerce Ministry has invited 11 manufacturers who had received FDA certificates to help with the production. The current capacity is 1.2 million pieces a day.

Invited?? Surely they have the power to Demand, compel, order, etc to manufacture pronto

[Chazar]

33 minutes ago, johng said:

how is everyone supposed to wear a face mask

because theyre  not

[johng]

4 minutes ago, Chazar said:

because theyre  not

Not what ?  not supposed to or  are supposed to but can't because there are not enough ?

[jmccarty]

Now that this is gaining traction as a potential to slow the spread, please do educate the public on safe use of these when they do get or need them.

Asymptomatic spreaders is good enough reason for all to wear these in public if available.  I did not agree with that until recent advice from medical and science experts.

[Cake Monster]

21 minutes ago, Forza2002 said:

These Ministers haven't got a clue what the daily mask production is. One minute he is saying 1.1 million daily, then later he says 2.3....

They know exactly to the single piece how many are produced daily.

What is reported and distributed may not be exactly the same

[Ian Nagle]

WHO  says the masks are useless.

 

(World health organisation not Roger Daltrey)

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Reports of ministry hoarding 200 million face masks 'based on a misunderstanding'

'misunderstanding' I looked it up my Thai dictionary:

A word used when the truth will cause a loss of face, or when someone has been caught in a blatant act of corruption.

 

<Sarcasm alert for the hard-of-learning>

[colinneil]

Misunderstanding, other words people could use is, cover up.

Any time this lot start on about misunderstanding it usually involves a cover up.

[Yinn]

1 hour ago, johng said:

Ohh dear  how is everyone supposed to wear a face mask  if there is only enough for 1 in 38 people ??

Share?

 

this whole story is not true. 

 

Remember “Boy” the red plate benz and...

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30383767

[johng]

"but he asked the media to present only news that is beneficial to the country."

[Youlike]

1 hour ago, Somtamnication said:

In farangland, they call that fuzzy math.

In farangland they act like they don't need masks at all because they were to dumb to prepare them.....now they don't have any for the ordinary folks.

[JAG]

They're not hoarding them - they've flogged 'em!

[faraday]

As it's Tuesday today, I think, does this mean in 6 days time?

 

"One million masks will be distributed to medical teams and volunteer nurses nationwide every day, starting from 5pm on Monday"

[Oziex1]

A misunderstanding, OK we understand.

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, johng said:

Ohh dear  how is everyone supposed to wear a face mask  if there is only enough for 1 in 38 people ??

And only good for few hours for the average Joe and probably a lot less for medical staff. 

 

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, colinneil said:

Misunderstanding, other words people could use is, cover up.

Any time this lot start on about misunderstanding it usually involves a cover up.

Is that a misunderstanding of a misunderstanding ????

[trainman34014]

They didn't Hoard them; they sold them to China....there is no 'Misunderstanding' !

[ParkerN]

4 hours ago, nausea said:

Pathetic, Rome burns and Nero fiddles, and I don't mean in the sense of playing a violin.

It's a sobering thought that while Thais are scared and in danger, their government is probably trying to calculate how much they can get in kickbacks or straightforward theft.

[ParkerN]

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

They didn't Hoard them; they sold them to China....there is no 'Misunderstanding' !

The sad part of this is that it's quite likely to be correct.

 

 

Edited March 31, 2020 by ParkerN

[lockyv7]

15 hours ago, brucec64 said:

And where did all the eggs go?

I think all the chooks must have gone back home to the village 

[30la]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Responding to reports of the ministry stocking up 200 million face masks, he said the news was wrong and it was a mistake in communication.

He explained that the number was an estimate of the total masks that could be produced without importing green filter from China or other countries. At that time, the companies had shown their stock of filter to the ministry, which estimated that they could continue to produce up to around 200 million face masks.

After the reactions of your people, it took you a long time to find a lie ....

[jaiyen]

Whenever anyone in the Thai government gets caught out lying they always say "It was a misunderstanding !"  What will they come up with for April Fools Day ?