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Will Egypt's military corner the coronavirus market?

The Egyptian military has begun manufacturing and selling protective masks, which are in short supply through pharmacies.
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Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak in Egypt, the military took the lead in disinfecting state institutions to contain the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the Ministry of Military Production announced on March 24 that the military would begin manufacturing and selling medical masks across the country. Announcement of the army’s decision to sell medical supplies came at a time when retail pharmacies and other businesses and, therefore, individuals were finding it difficult or impossible to procure them.

Mohammed Othman, a pharmacy owner in Cairo, told Al-Monitor, “The crisis suddenly emerged. The quantities we had had started to run out quickly, and when we asked suppliers for more, they told us that there was a shortage.”

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