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The number of patients in the country continues to increase, but obtaining a mask is increasingly difficult. Even in hospitals where masks are essential, you can no longer live as much as you want. That's why the government has decided to stop sending large quantities of masks and hand sanitizers to foreign countries.

Reporter Park Chan-bum

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This ENT hospital, which is frequently visited by respiratory patients, offers non-masked visitors a disposable mask at the entrance.

Patients are required to wear masks to seek care.

Minimal device to protect other patients and staff.

[Lee Young-mi / Internal medicine specialist: There is no history of going to China because of the 2nd and 3rd infected people.

I use more than 200 masks a day, but I can't hold it until next week with current inventory.

I ordered 10,000 masks from a wholesaler but still haven't received it.

[Kim, Myung-Sook / Infection Control Team: (To the Wholesaler) If you ask me to get 10,000 copies, I'm looking for other wholesalers because I can't get enough supply. ] Due to the shortage of masks, even the best hospitals and clinics suffered from purchasing masks, and the government decided to strengthen the customs clearance procedures for taking masks overseas.

[Hong Nam Ki / Deputy Prime Minister: If you suspect that the goods were collected through the act of buying a canteen, we will withhold customs and request a charge.]

The government has decided to block mass exports in advance by making formal customs clearance procedures, especially when exporting masks or hand sanitizers worth more than 1,000 or 2 million won.

(Video coverage: Hanil-Sang, Jeonghwahwa, Video editing: Choi Hye-young)