Coronavirus: Czech Republic seizes more than 100,000 face masks sent by China to help Italy tackle spread

The Czech Republic has seized more than 100,000 face masks which China had sent to Italy to help tackle the country's coronavirus outbreak, authorities have said.

Around 680,000 protective masks were confiscated, as well as thousands of respirators, from speculators, according to an article shared by the Czech health minister.

The company involved was supposed to provide the equipment to health professionals, but raised the price at the last minute, the interior minister said.

However, it turned out that some of these seized masks were destined for Italy - one of the worst-hit countries in the world by the coronavirus pandemic - as a gift from China.

All will end well, the authorities have assured:

The Czech foreign minister has said that 110,000 face masks will be sent to Italy from their own stock while the police investigation is ongoing, the Italian embassy to Prague told The Independent.

This matches the number of face masks meant for Italy that were seized, according to the embassy.

The delivery will be sent before the police finish their investigation "in light of the growing need for medical supplies in Italy", their statement said.