Companies in Hawassa Industrial Park Begin Face Mask Production (April 13, 2020)

Companies in Hawassa industrial park have begun producing face masks as part of efforts to halt spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Currently, they are “producing 10,000 face masks per day to increase to 50,000 per day” said the Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed on Twitter.

“Our industries are adapting to the times. Companies in Hawasa Industrial Park undeterred and shifting operations to meet immediate needs,” he added.

The Prime Minister also called on others to follow suit. “Well done. I encourage other companies to innovate and adapt,” he said.

Ethiopia has so far registered 71 cases of COVID-19, three deaths and 10 recoveries.

According to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University, more than 1.8 million cases of coronavirus have been registered globally.

More than 114,000 people have died and close to 428,000 have recovered from the virus.