BEIJING/LONDON (Reuters) – General Electric (NYSE:) The healthcare unit of the company said Tuesday that it increased production of dye for medical scans at its Irish factory and sent products via air in an effort to combat shortfalls, which were caused by its Shanghai factory being shut down.

These steps are being taken to speed up the delivery of radiography chemicals, as well as CT scans and x-rays. They highlight the profound impact that COVID-19’s extended lockdown in the city has on the global supply and manufacturing of crucial goods.

The news comes after the Greater New York Hospital Assn (GNYHA) warned on May 4 of temporary supply shortages of GE Healthcare’s iodinated contrast media — specifically its Omnipaque products made in Shanghai.

A spokesperson for the company said that it was working hard to improve the production capacity of its iodinated comparison media products. This statement came after Shanghai’s facility had been closed for several weeks because of COVID-19 regulations.

Although the plant has been reopened, it is still not fully operational.

According to the spokesperson, “We’re working to restore full capacity as soon local authorities permit.”

To speed delivery times, Cork-based company also increased production at its Cork facility in Ireland. It didn’t give any details regarding the increases in capacity, or the extra cost it was able to incur as a result.

New York’s hospital association stated that a cut of 80% in supplies would last the next six to eight weeks. It also advised healthcare professionals to ration stock.

Shanghai authorities increased the security measures in Shanghai to extend the restrictions placed on commercial hub of 25million people a month earlier.

GE Healthcare owns four manufacturing plants for contrast media, one of which is located in Shanghai.

Bayer, which is competing with GE Healthcare for contrast media, stated it was not in a similar position but that it was taking “several actions to help manage this market situation with incremental volume to support customers, and minimise patient impacts”, without going into detail.