Sale Of Masks Soars In Delhi

Amid the Coronavirus alarm, the sale of N95 face masks has soared in Delhi, triggering a massive shortage of the protective gear and a rise in its price in many areas.

- Isha Gupta

The masks have vanished from the medical stores in some places including those around RML Hospital where the number of patients under observation rose to six on Monday. Another eight patients have tested negative and they have been discharged.

Where masks are still available, in Connaught Place, for instance, long queues formed at the stores. Customers were also seen snapping up hand sanitizers and thermometers.

Shops that have run out of N95 masks have no idea as to when their next delivery would arrive. Vendors of medical supplies said that masks were becoming harder to the source.

Uttam, a medical store owner near RML Hospital, confirmed that there has been a surge in the demand of masks after Coronavirus cases were reported in India. “We have sold around 10,000 masks in a week. These include both N95 and surgical masks. N95s are out of stock at the moment,” he said.

Pawan, another medical store owner near RML Hospital, admitted that the increase in demand has spiked prices. “A plain mask which used to cost Rs 5 is now being sold at Rs 10. Also, we used to buy one N95 for Rs 100. Now we’re not getting it even for Rs 150,” he said.

Medical supply vendors said people who cannot get N95 masks are buying regular ones. However, according to Dr. Sandeep Nayar, HOD, Respiratory Medicine, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, regular masks do not protect people from the Chinese virus.

“Only special masks like N95 or N99 can prevent Coronavirus infection. These too should be tightly worn. Mouth and nose should be properly covered,” he said.

Last week, India banned exports of all kinds of personal protection equipment, including masks. The move aims at meeting the rising demand for such products.

THE EXPORT BAN