COVID-19 outbreak: Xiaomi India to donate lakhs of N95 masks to state govts, hospitals

In wake of Coronavirus pandemic, smartphone and TV maker Xiaomi will donate N95 masks and protective suits to state governments, hospitals and police forces in India this week, a top company official said on Monday. price of N95 masks in India has witnessed around 18-fold spike and stock is unavailable in most parts of country due to high demand, following outbreak of deadly Coronavirus.

'Lakhs of N95 masks will be donated'

"..we have imported lakhs of N95 masks and protective suits to India. We are working with all government authorities to donate se. Lakhs of N95 masks will be donated across state governments such as Karnataka, Punjab and Delhi government, government hospitals and state police starting this week," Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Jain said in an open letter to Mi fans and employees. 

Xiaomi leads Indian smartphone market with around 28% market share, according to Counterpoint Research report. Jain said that company will also donate hazmat suits to doctors across a few government hospitals like AIIMS, St. Johns. Xiaomi has seven factories operational in India, set up in partnership with contract manufacturers Foxconn and Flex. Over 30,000 employees in India work on its projects.

"At Xiaomi India, we have taken several measures of precaution such as curtailing business travel and external meetings, ensuring employees and all partners wear masks in public and keep ir hands clean and sanitized. We have also implemented work from home for employees in offices and encour maintaining social distance for all employees," Jain said. Xiaomi made anuncement before Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb spread of vel Coronavirus.

Anand Mahindra, Mahindra Group CEO, on Sunday, anunced a series of measures company is taking to help healthcare professionals. Mahindra said that Mahindra Group will manufacture ventilators and offer Mahindra resorts as temporary healthcare homes.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday anunced a 21-day lockdown in entire country effective from midnight to deal with spread of Coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is only option to deal with disease. 

According to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases on Thursday surged to 694 in country, including 633 active cases. re have been 16 deaths due to deadly virus.

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(With PTI inputs)