A Boeing 737 flown by American Airlines passes by the Lockheed Martin building as it takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, United States on March 11, 2019. (Photo: AFP)

Boeing, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States, has announced plans to donate 250,000 medical-grade respiratory masks to China in order to ease the medical supply shortages amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The company said the masks will be provided to local health officials containing the spread of the coronavirus in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province.

"Our thoughts continue to be with all those in China dealing with the health impacts related to the coronavirus," said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun. "Through our donation, it is our hope that we can help limit the spread of this virus and ease the burden on local aid workers and medical personnel."