France has ordered over 1 billion face masks, most from China: minister

France has ordered more than one billion face masks, the vast majority from China, the country's health minister said on Saturday, as the government scrambles to build up its supplies with the coronavirus outbreak showing no sign of easing.

Health Minister Olivier Veran said France was using 40 million face masks weekly as it battles the pandemic and currently has three weeks' worth of supplies.

Doctors, nursing home carers, the police, and other frontline staff have decried a shortage of masks.