Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - Since the new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak began in late December 2019 health masks have become expensive and rare.

In Taiwan which is geographically close to China, there is no surge in the price of health masks, according to a statement from the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) received here on Thursday.

The price of one sheet of health masks on Formosa Island remains around 2,000 rupiahs.

In the face of a very high need of masks, the Taiwanese Government decided to buy health masks produced throughout Formosa Island at the beginning of January 31, 2020.

The local government also commissioned the Epidemic Command Center to distribute the masks to medical units, as well as to shops and pharmacies which are expected to sell them at the same price to the whole community.

This effort succeeded in maintaining the price of medical masks which are sold around 2,000 rupiahs per piece.

The Taiwanese government's mask policy has been implemented by other countries including France which announced on March 3, 2020 that it will buy and collect health masks and distribute them nationally.

Reporting by Indonesia Window