China imported more than two billion masks and 25 million pieces of protective clothing from overseas before the coronavirus outbreak reached pandemic levels, it has been revealed.

On Thursday a Chinese government report emerged detailing its foreign trade for the first two months of the year, when the country was at the peak of its virus crisis.

As COVID-19 infections began to spread across the globe in January and February, China saw a 'rapid growth in imports of commodities and key consumer goods'.

More than 2.46billion pieces of medical materials, including masks and protective equipment, were inspected by National Customs in China between January 24 and February 29, according to the report.

Tonnes of medical supplies (pictured) were shipped from Sydney to China at the request of a Beijing-backed property giant Risland

Chinese property giant Greenland shipped Australian medical supplies to Wuhan in January and February (pictured)

Risland Australia last month declared their support for Wuhan and showed workers inside a warehouse packed with thousands of boxes of protective clothing (pictured)

The report states the agency had expedited the entry of supplies by introducing 'zero-delay customs clearance of epidemic prevention and control materials.'

It comes days after Chinese organisations operating in Australia were reported to have sent bulk medical supplies to China at the height of the crisis.

Chinese-owned property developer Risland Australia was reported to have flown 80 tonnes of medical supplies on a corporate jet to Wuhan in late February.

Video footage emerged showing boxes of surgical masks stacked up at Perth airport before being sent to Wuhan on February 8 - when there were 15 cases of coronavirus in Australia.

Another Chinese property company, Greenland Group, retasked its employees to purchase face masks, hand sanitisers, antibacterial wipes, thermometers, Panadol and other medical items in bulk for shipment to China.

Greenland bought up three million surgical masks, 500,000 pairs of gloves and bulk supplies of sanitiser and antibacterial wipes in Australia and other countries where the company operates.

The goods were hoarded at Greenland's Sydney headquarters and were sent to China in January and February.

Greenland sent HR and management staff out to buy the medical supplies before hoarding them at its Sydney headquarters

Pictured: Australian-based Chinese property company Risland shipped 90 tonnes worth of vital medical supplies to Wuhan from Perth on February 8

Australian hospitals are now struggling to cope with a shortage masks and other protective gear as the number of coronavirus cases in the country continue to soar.

As of Thursday, there are more than 5,108 confirmed cases in Australia, with 23 deaths.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 26,651 Victoria: 19,835 New South Wales: 4,166 Queensland: 1,149 Western Australia: 659 South Australia: 466 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 26,651 CURRENT ACTIVE CASES: 1,340 DEATHS: 810 Updated: 9.56 PM, 13 September, 2020 Advertisement

Doctors and nurses have been turning to hardware giant Bunnings for supplies - and even purchasing full-faced snorkelling kits from other retailers.

Medical experts are worried a potential shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) will leave frontline medical staff exposed to infection and unable to care for patients.

ANU College of Health and Medicine Professor Shane Thomas told Daily Mail Australia the country did not have enough masks, gowns and eye shields.

'It's something personally I have a lot of concern about,' he said.

'The fact we don't have enough on hand is a problem. We have two big shortages: PPE and (coronavirus) testing kids.'

The shortage is so dire the Australian Army has pitched in to make more face masks at the Med-Con factory near Shepparton.

As countries around the world battle the pandemic, people from the United States to the Czech Republic are sewing their own masks.

Studies show that while improvised masks are not as effective as surgical masks, they are better than nothing.

A Federal Health Department spokesperson said on March 24 that the government had contracted suppliers to provide 54 million surgical masks and P2 respirators for the national medical stockpile.

'A significant supply of P2 and surgical masks remain in the National Medical Stockpile, and will be directed to areas of greatest need while additional PPE arrives,' the spokesperson said.

The Federal Government on Wednesday announced it has banned the exports of masks, hand sanitiser, gloves, gowns, goggles and visors.

Customs can now seize the goods and add them to the national stockpile for healthcare workers to use, as long as they are not defective.

'These measures have become necessary because we have seen a small number of individuals engaging in the bulk purchasing of essential goods from retail outlets in Australia, with the intent of profiteering from exploitative exporting and price gouging,' Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said.