Faults in China-supplied coronavirus equipment reported in Europe
Netherlands recalls hundreds of thousands of face masks after Spain returned testing kits
FFP2 face masks advertised at a closed shop in Berlin. The Netherlands found flaws in a shipment from China that prevented the masks acting as effective barriers against coronavirus. Photograph: David Gannon/AFP via Getty Images
The Netherlands has joined Spain in withdrawing coronavirus equipment bought from Chinese suppliers after finding it defective, a setback in the scramble to meet dire shortages of testing and protective equipment.
In the Netherlands, the ministry of health issued a recall of hundreds of thousands of face masks that had been distributed to hospitals, after finding flaws that prevented them acting as effective barriers against the virus.