China is setting up a mask factory within six days to meet surging demand in the wake of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.

China Construction First Group will convert an industrial building in Beijing into the mask factory.

This factory will be able to produce 250,000 masks every day. The work commenced on Monday and will be completed by Saturday.

To protect the construction workers from being infected with coronavirus (Covid-19), the construction company will take temperatures every day and also allocate rooms away for workers showing symptoms.

The Covid-19 death toll has increased to 1,873, with 98 new deaths in China, as of the end of 17 February. In Hubei province alone, the virus led to 93 new deaths.