Turkey Restricts Exports of Medical Protective Gear

(Bloomberg) -- Turkey on Wednesday imposed stringent restrictions on the export of medical protective gear in a preemptive measure against the coronavirus.

Companies must now seek government authorization to export medical masks, gloves, protective gowns and goggles, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette. Other countries have taken similar steps.

Turkey hasn't reported any coronavirus cases but the epidemic has gripped neighbors including Iran, the hardest-hit after China.

Its biggest producer of medical masks, MFA Mask, said it's increased production to three shifts from one to deal with surging demand, especially after China stopped its exports of such gear.

“Many government institutions and hospitals in Turkey have already placed orders for protective masks as a measure against an outbreak of coronavirus over the past month,” said Fatih Furtun, the company's general manager.

Turkey has also stopped all passenger flights with Italy, South Korea and Iraq and started screening passengers arriving from abroad.

To contact the reporter on this story: Selcan Hacaoglu in Ankara at shacaoglu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Onur Ant at oant@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel, Paul Abelsky

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