BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's mask production capacity is recovering steadily as producers race to resume production in full gear to ensure enough supply for control of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

About 73 percent of the country's mask production capacity had been recovered by Feb. 7, Chen Da, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner, told a press conference Sunday.

For medical masks, the rate rose to 87 percent, Chen said.

China is the world's largest mask producer, with over 20 million masks made daily in normal times.