Face masks (Getty)

TOYOKAWA, Aichi -- The Toyokawa Municipal Government announced on March 25 that its friendship city Wuxi in China has sent 50,000 masks to this central Japan city.

Toyokawa, which is now suffering from a shortage of masks amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, had earlier sent relief supplies, including 4,500 masks and hazmat suits, to its Chinese counterpart in February in response to its request.

But while the outbreak in China has since eased, the spread of the virus has worsened in Japan. As there is a possibility that stocks of masks for facilities including medical institutions in Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, will run out in two months, Toyokawa Mayor Yukio Takemoto announced at a March 24 press conference that city government officials had planned to ask Wuxi to send it 4,500 masks.

The coronavirus situation in Wuxi is now apparently stable with no new infections reported.

(Japanese original by Makoto Ishizuka, Toyokawa Bureau)