Nearly 20 pct of nursing care service providers in Japan have run out of stock of face masks, which have been short in supply in the country amid the continuing spread of the new coronavirus, according to a recent survey by a labor union.

Of providers of home-visit nursing care services, almost 30 pct are out of stock of face masks, the survey also showed, underscoring the serious situation facing those having contact with elderly people, who tend to develop severe symptoms once they are infected with the virus.

"The government should control distributions so that necessary sanitary products such as masks are preferentially allocated to nursing care service providers," said an official of the Nippon Careservice Craft Union.

The labor union for workers engaged in nursing care services conducted the emergency survey on 4,043 offices of such service providers nationwide from Friday. The results reflected replies from 1,117 offices obtained by Sunday.

Asked about the number of days their current mask stocks could be used before they run out, 18.8 pct answered they have no stock.

Meanwhile, 7.3 pct said they would run out of stock within one to three days, 9.8 pct replied in up to seven days and 16.6 pct said in up to 14 days.

Among home-visit service providers, the largest portion of 27.8 pct answered they have no stock. Meanwhile, 9.0 pct said they have stocks for one to three days, 12.9 pct for up to seven days and 16.8 pct for up to 14 days.

JIJI Press