N95 masks at `150 fly off the shelves

The dreaded coronavirus, which has the entire country on tenterhooks, has triggered a panic buying of protective facemasks in the city. More specifically, people are keen to buy the N95 facemasks, whose stocks are not reaching the city currently.

While one mask costs around `150, all stocks in the city have been exhausted, say medical apparatus sellers in the city. Most of these masks stocks, ironically, are manufactured in China and apparatus traders and businessmen have ceased all imports from there. “The N95 facemask variants are imported by us. However, we are not getting any supply of these masks now. We only have surgical masks available,” said a representative of Amar Surgicals in the city.

Similarly, even experts from medical device associations say that sales of these masks have gone through the roof.

“We are hearing reports that there is tremendous demand for these masks. Not just in Hyderabad but across the country. There is a lot of demand for these masks in Delhi. It could be due to pollution. The government is doing its best to ensure that there is no shortage of such masks,” a pharmaceutical industry insider said. He further said that stocks aren’t reaching the city as the factory that manufactures these masks is in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, where the epidemic broke out. He added that government was trying to source similar such masks from domestic companies to balance between sales and demand. However, medical officials at the Hyderabad International Airport said that they were handing out masks and gloves to all employees working in the immigration section.

“Usually, the immigration sector is the first point-of-contact with those infected by the virus. We are taking utmost care to ensure that none of the employees contract the disease. All employees working in immigration and preimmigration checks, where people are being screened, have been given this paraphernalia. There is no shortage of either masks or gloves,” said Dr Chandrashekhar, a health officer with the airport. Following the screening, virus-free passengers move ahead to other counters.

This particular mask is said to be designed in such a way that it has several layers of filters, which ensure that air taken in is free from dust particles and other contaminants, to the tune of 95 per cent. When compared with regular surgical masks, this apparatus makes it easier for the wearer to keep it on for long spells, without feeling shortness of breath.