Spain villagers make their own virus face masks

Residents of a small village in the Spanish region of Catalonia have taken matters into their own hands in an effort to help with shortage of protective masks as the country struggles to contain its coronavirus outbreak.

The villagers of Sentmenat have started sewing protective face masks using fabrics donated by nearby factories.

With only a small workshop and a few sewing machines, the locals prepare dozens of masks everyday for door-to-door distribution.

The masks are being sterlized by the local dentists and are also being sent to the village council, police and local hospital.

A total of 1,326 people have died of COVID-19 in Spain since the beginning of the outbreak in February.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

Worldwide, more than 275,000 people have been infected and more than 11,400 have died. Over 88,000 have recovered, most of them in China.