As virus boosts demand, French face mask factory ramps up output

An employee wearing a protective mask works at the Kolmi-Hopen company's factory in Saint-Barthelemy-d'Anjou as their activities boosted following the coronavirus outbreak, France, February 5, 2020. Picture taken February 5, 2020. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

ANGERS, France (Reuters) - For one face mask factory outside Angers, western France, business is booming.

It already makes about 100 million masks per year, but soaring demand due to the coronavirus outbreak means it is adding a third more staff and ramping up production to seven days a week.