Fears spur mad rush for masks

A SURGICAL mask shortage has put Tasmanian disability and aged care sectors under strain amid claims that face masks were “the new baby formula” for Chinese resellers.

Geeveston Pharmacy owner Ian Magill said there had been an “absolute shortage” of face masks since the coronavirus threat emerged, impacting locals who need supplies.

“There is a family who have tried to access them through the wholesalers and the price has been whacked up,” he said.

“There’s stuff going on in the background that is not too impressive.”

One spokeswoman from a Tasmanian healthcare supplies group, who did not wish to be identified, said wholesalers marking up surgical face masks were putting “huge pressure” on “genuine longterm customers” in need of emergency supplies. She said her company had set quantity restrictions per person to prevent the public from buying unnecessary volumes locally or for resale to China.

“One customer told me ‘I am sending these to Hong Kong for resale, so I need more’,” the spokeswoman said.

“These are products that are needed every day.”

She said her company’s emergency mask supply would be allocated to disability and aged care customers for their “everyday health and wellbeing”.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said most Tasmanians currently have “absolutely no case” for requiring a face mask.

“There is no widespread public risk of infection now so people do not need to wear a mask in public,” he said.

While stocks at the Royal Hobart Hospital are currently adequate, State Secretary of Health and Community Services Union Tim Jacobson said the hospital’s suppliers could run into shortages in time.

“Sourcing them is likely to get difficult after national and international demand increases,” he said.

“Particularly in Tasmania, where getting a supply is difficult enough.”

A federal government stockpile of 12 million masks has been issued to general practitioners to alleviate some of the shortage.

The World Health Organisation has recommended washing hands thoroughly and sneezing into your elbow as the best methods for coronavirus protection, with face masks deemed less effective by experts.