Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang, recently released guidelines on how to expand production of masks to prevent infection as an increasing number of enterprises resume operations.

The city pledged in its guidelines that it will have a daily production capacity of two million masks by the end of this month.

Numerous fashion brands, including Peacebird, Younger, and Aiyimei, have begun producing masks in an effort to fight against the epidemic.

Ningbo currently has nine professional mask production lines and 27 textile and garment enterprises with a combined capacity of 600,000 masks per day.

The guidelines state local authorities should help mask manufacturers and supporting enterprises resume production as soon as possible, while offering incentives to facilitate technical transformation and improve production efficiency.

Enterprises have also been encouraged to invest in new production lines in the short term.

Those listed as provincial or municipal mask manufacturers will be entitled to a subsidy of up to 30 million yuan ($4.47 million) from the local government in accordance with their actual investment in output expansion.

Meanwhile, enterprises listed as key professional mask manufacturers at the municipal level that have a daily output of 50,000 masks, 150,000 masks, or 300,000 masks will receive 100,000 yuan, 300,000 yuan, or 500,000 yuan, respectively, in subsidies.

A green channel for enterprises that have the ability to produce masks will also be introduced, according to the document.

In addition, local authorities will mobilize local chemical companies to hasten the production of raw materials for masks. Those who successfully develop cloth used for masks will receive 300,000 yuan in R&D subsidies.

Meanwhile, more efforts will be made to help ease labor shortages in the sector, the guidelines said.