The city is recalling more than 62,000 surgical masks distributed to Toronto long-term care homes due to quality control issues.

And the city says it’s working with the Ontario government to quickly procure new ones, as the recall represents a “significant shortfall” in Toronto’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE.)

Officials started receiving reports Tuesday about the masks tearing and ripping, said Matthew Pegg, Toronto’s fire chief and head of emergency management.

“Immediately, upon becoming aware of this situation we took action and recalled the masks,” he said Wednesday.

The masks, part of a $200,000 order of 4,000 boxes, were from a vendor the city hadn’t used previously, Pegg said.

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Pegg also confirmed the masks were manufactured in China.

On March 28, 1,252 boxes, containing 62,600 masks were distributed to long-term care homes in Toronto.