Coronavirus: Sharp TV factory repurposed to make face masks as people rush to protect against disease

Displays are made in 'germ-free' plants that also make good mask factories

A TV factory will be repurposed to make surgical face masks amid the rise of coronavirus.

The vast numbers of people looking to wear the masks has led to a shortage across many parts of the world, potentially causing problems for those healthcare professionals and others who rely on them.

Now Sharp has said it will use a plant in Japan which normally makes displays to produce up to 500,000 masks a day.

Electronics displays are generally made in what are called "germ-free" plants for the sake of high quality, making them an ideal place for mask-making.

It comes as officials condemn those people who are unnecessarily buying the masks, amid warnings over the unintended consequences of stocking up on them.

“Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS!” said Jerome Adams, the surgeon general of the US, on Twitter. “They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if health care providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”

The Japanese have long worn face masks to prevent spreading colds or alleviate allergies and that practice has grown more widespread since the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus that causes the disease known as Covid-19.

Sharp, owned by Hon Hai Precision Industry Company, also known as FoxConn, of Taiwan, said mask production at its Mie Prefecture plant will start by the end of March.

Sharp, based in Osaka, Japan, said in a statement it hoped to contribute to society by making the masks.

Their prices, sales channels and other details are still undecided, it said.

Additional reporting by Associated Press