Thousands of Chinese Companies Expand Their Business Scope to Include Medical Supplies Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak

A Chinese woman wears a protective mask as she has her temperature checked before entering a park with her child in Beijing, China, on Feb. 9, 2020. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in mainland China, face masks have become a commodity of high demand. Many Chinese companies have added the production or sale of masks in their business operations.

A recent survey conducted by Tianyancha, a business data search firm, shows that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 7, more than 3,000 enterprises added masks, protective suits for medical use, disinfectants, thermometer, and other medical devices into their business operations.