Chinanews client, Beijing, December 17th (Zuo Yukun) Hello, everyone, I am a mask, composed of meltblown cloth, non-woven fabric, mask belt, and nose clip. It is an ordinary one in the medical supplies family. member.
I was born in China, the world's largest producer and exporter of masks.
My family members are all over the world, and half of my relatives are my "Made in China" fellows.
Citizens wearing masks are shopping for leisure.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Wei
Today, our family of medical masks has developed three main branches: medical protective masks, medical surgical masks and disposable medical masks.
We each perform our duties and work conscientiously.
Until this year, life has changed drastically.
A "cover" is hard to find
"Everyone, wear a mask when you go out!"
"Where can I buy masks now?"
"I heard that the hospital can't buy it..."
Since late January, people on the streets and alleys suddenly started talking about us. Everyone who met the day before and asked "have you eaten?" asked "Where did you buy the mask?"
We, who usually stayed silently in the corner of the shelf, suddenly became popular products. Anxious people crowded the pharmacy and ran out of stock.
Data map: During the peak of the epidemic, people lined up to buy masks.
Photo by Liu Wenhua
Only then did I know that a monster called the "new crown virus" was spreading quietly. It would sneak into the human lungs, harm their bodies, and even swallow their lives.
Although I am fragile, I am a powerful weapon for mankind to fight the virus.
With the ability to block the spread of droplets, when I cover people's mouth and nose, disease and health are separated by myself.
As a result, my brothers and sisters scattered in various places were called up to go to the front line to fight the virus wherever we are needed.
But the problem also followed.
As a consumable product, the recommended continuous wearing time of general medical surgical masks is 4 hours, not to mention those medical workers who face the virus directly.
The demand for protective materials such as masks by hospitals and doctors is far greater than the supply.
Medical staff are performing emergency tracheal intubation for patients with coronary pneumonia at risk.
Photo by Zhang Chaohui
Although it only takes 0.5 seconds to produce a mask, a standard process for analysis and disinfection takes 7 days to half a month.
A "mask defense battle" started.
Full speed "hood"
Before the epidemic, the maximum daily production of masks in China was more than 20 million.
In order to fill the gap, the authorities used central reserves, increased production capacity, and transferred exports to domestic sales to ensure demand. Local governments have also mobilized to open up green channels to urgently resume work and replenish goods.
"I think we should go all out in the situation of the country. Even if the customer is lost, we must first ensure domestic supply." The general manager of a textile export company in Nantong, Jiangsu, was the representative of the voice of mask practitioners at that time.
On January 25, more than 30 mask companies resumed production, and the output of masks reached more than 8 million a day;
On February 2, the actual production capacity of masks nationwide was restored by 60%;
On February 3, the output of masks in 22 key provinces across the country reached 14.8 million;
On February 7, the national mask capacity utilization rate reached 73%, of which the medical mask capacity utilization rate reached 87%;
On February 11, the national mask capacity utilization rate reached 94%, of which the medical N95 mask capacity utilization rate reached 128%;
On February 29, the national daily production capacity of masks reached 110 million, and the daily output reached 116 million, which was 5.2 times and 12 times that of February 1.
A professional mask manufacturer in Shanghai started the "all-weather production" mode during the Spring Festival.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tang Yanjun
Among them, in addition to the companies that originally engaged in medical equipment and protective products, they are fully fired up and work overtime to produce; there are more "halfway" other companies that temporarily set up production lines to switch to us (masks).
"If you want to donate masks, if you can't buy them, we will make them ourselves!" According to statistics from Tianyan Check, only from January 1 to February 7, 2020, more than 3,000 companies have added "masks and protective clothing" to their business scope. , Disinfectant, thermometer, medical equipment, etc.
Jiang Juan (pseudonym), a rural girl, entered a mask factory in February this year to do "earring tape" work.
She still remembers that she had to wear a mask for almost 24 hours in the factory, and she also needed a mask, hat and earplugs to enter the operation room.
"Tap the machine with your feet, and the temperature is high. It will stick to it. It's very simple. Wages are calculated by piece, 3 cents for a day shift and 4 cents for a night shift." , 6,000 yuan, much higher than her previous income.
"There is a sense of pride in'serving the people'." Jiang Juan had been working in a garment factory before. In her opinion, "the days in the mask factory are the highlight of her life."
Thanks to the efforts of "Jiang Juan", my family has gradually grown, and gloriously "posted" in every corner of the fight against the epidemic.
I can proudly say that China’s "anti-epidemic" victory is due to me.
China "covers" you
Although I have shown a lot of energy, when the new crown pneumonia epidemic is spreading globally, not everyone is willing to choose me due to various reasons such as habits and culture.
Of course, the excellent me, "True Fragrance" will not be absent.
On July 11, local time, US President Trump was photographed wearing a mask in public for the first time when visiting a military medical center.
Just a day ago, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also put on a mask in public for the first time.
In November, U.S. President-elect Biden even stated that he would promote the mandatory wearing of masks throughout the United States.
In an interview with CNN, he said that the first measure he took was to let Americans wear masks for 100 days.
On December 7, local time, citizens of San Francisco, California, USA traveled wearing masks.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
"Qingshan is the same cloud and rain, and the moon has never been two towns." Faced with the global gap in masks, my motherland selflessly opened its arms, and more and more brothers and sisters were sent to "business trips" all over the world.
On December 11, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that China has provided more than 200 billion masks to other countries so far.
In December, Mr. Lan, the owner of a mask factory in Guangzhou, began to wear long sleeves, and the banner in the factory was changed to "Continuous optimization, refinement and pragmatism, entering the second half, expanding to 1,000 people and working to a billion. "
In 2020, which Mr. Lan thinks is quite magical, his understanding of mask machines is also changing: "Previously, the stable efficiency of most machines on the market was 25-30 pieces per minute. The epidemic has greatly promoted the development of mask machines. From 30 slices to 80 slices, to 100 slices, 200 slices...Optimization is currently what the mask machine industry has been doing."
According to Mr. Lan, the most popular one sold in the factory is an "elastic ear strap inner wrapping machine". The ear straps are wrapped by the edge of the mask. It can be switched between children and adults with one button, adjustable in length, and stable 200 pieces. /minute.
The picture shows on December 11, the staff are showing the new crown virus inactivated masks.
Photo by Zhang Yazi
Another winter arrives, and Jiang Juan and Mr. Lan's lives are gradually returning to ordinary.
However, the current overseas epidemic situation is accelerating, and sporadic spreads in the country occur from time to time. My brothers and sisters and I are still working hard on everyone's mouth and nose and fulfilling our mission.
Gao Fu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also reminded everyone: If you have taken off your mask, please remember to wear it back. Let's work together to "survive" this winter.
Maybe my life span is only a short 4 hours, but in 2020 of the "war epidemic", I hope you will remember that I once "covered" you.
(Finish)