Spike in demand for face masks, sanitisers

CONCERN Stocks dry up at many shops in Doaba region and Bathinda; others are selling the products at a high premium

JALANDHAR/BATHINDA/MOGA: The demand for surgical masks and hand sanitisers has spiked amid reports of suspected coronavirus patients being quarantined at many places in the state. Many chemist shops in Doaba region and Bathinda are reportedly already out of stock of the said items, while others were selling them at a premium.

Surinder Sharma, the chemist in Jalandhar said a normal face mask which was available for ₹20 to ₹50 on a normal day is being sold for anywhere between ₹70 and ₹200.

Though, no confirmed case of the virus has come to the fore in the state, around 1,000 people have been screened in different government and private hospitals in the past week. Two suspected patients have been quarantined at the Jalandhar civil hospital.

Bathinda civil hospital authorities on Thursday quarantined a man from Sema village who had come back from Malaysia recently and developed coronavirus-like symptoms. Emergency medical officer at the hospital Dr Gurmail Singh said the patient has been kept in the special isolation ward as he was down with cough and fever.

Bathinda civil surgeon Dr Amrik Singh said patient’s blood samples have been sent to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Deepak Kumar, a wholesale drug stockist in Bathinda, said markets sanitisers and face masks were vanishing off the shelves fast.

Jalandhar DC Varinder Kumar Sharma said elaborate steps have been taken to check the spread of the flu.

COPS TO STUDENTS, MASKS TAKE OVER

Traffic police personnel in Jalandhar were seen on the field job with surgical masks on. Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Naresh Dogra said 170 masks were distributed among the traffic cops in the city.

Even most of the CBSE students who appeared for the accountancy examination on Thursday arrived carrying hand sanitisers and masks.

MOGA ADMN ADVISORY TO SCHOOLS, HOTELS

A day after a suspected case of coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported in Moga, the district administration on Thursday issued an advisory to various government and private schools, hotels and shopping malls in the district.

Moga civil surgeon Dr Andesh said individuals should maintain highest standards of hygiene and avoid crowded places.

She said teachers have been asked to keep close tabs on students and flag any flu-like symptoms with their parents. She said similar advisory was also issued to hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and guest houses.