The Chinese government announced on Monday that it urgently needs medical face masks to confront the rapid outbreak of coronavirus, according to Sky News Channel.
Fears of the virus have prompted the Chinese to stock up on single-use surgical masks, while frontline medical personnel at the center of the outbreak have reported equipment shortages.
Chinese authorities said that the death toll from the new Coronavirus has risen to 362.
The authorities announced that the total number of infection cases in the country has risen to 17,238.
"What China urgently needs at present are medical masks, protective suits, and safety goggles," the foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a press briefing.
At full capacity, China's factories are only able to produce around 20 million masks a day, according to the ministry of industry.
The foreign ministry said countries including Egypt, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Hungary have donated medical supplies.
On Thursday, the United States warned its citizens not to travel to China after Beijing announced that the death toll from the new Coronavirus has risen to more than 200 while the World Health Organization declared coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency.
Last week, China announced a nationwide ban on wildlife sales in stores, restaurants and e-commerce sites.
Health authorities in Beijing urged people not to shake hands but to use a conventional cupped-hand gesture instead of saluting. The advice was sent in a Sunday morning text message that went out to city mobile phone users.
The outbreak has overshadowed the start of the Lunar New Year, usually a festive time of year, with the cancellation of public events and the closure of many tourist sites. Many on social media have been calling for an extension of the week-long holiday to help prevent further spread of the virus.
Worldwide airports have stepped up screening of Chinese passengers, although some health experts have questioned their effectiveness.
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