Demand for face masks spikes amid coronavirus fears

Physicians say there is no need to wear face masks as no coronavirus cases have appeared in Bangladesh

The business of face mask has taken an upturn of late in the local market amid growing concern over coronavirus outbreak as people are out to stave off any threat emanating from the deadly virus.

The sudden rise in demand for face masks has increased their base price while also creating a supply shortage in the country.

As of now, there has not been any case of coronavirus detection in the country. But people are still trying to safeguard themselves against the sudden global threat – thereby prompting a section of the face mask sellers to capitalise on the growing alarm.

Physicians say there is no need to use face masks as no coronavirus cases have been detected in Bangladesh. They, however, suggest wearing surgical masks properly as means of protection from airborne diseases and dust.

Cases of coronavirus were first detected in Wuhan of China, and have since been reported in nearly a dozen of countries, including the United States of America (USA) and India. According to Chinese officials, the virus has killed at least 636 people so far and infected at least 31,161.

Over the course of last few days, many people have been spotted wearing face masks in Dhaka.

Visits to different areas of the city have revealed that the sales of different types of surgical face masks have increased with their prices getting spiralled in the past few days.

The masks got sold out in most of the drugstores and surgical medicine shops in the capital’s Shahbagh, College Gate, Malibagh, Farmgate, and Topkhana Road areas. The stores that still have such masks are selling them at an exorbitantly high price. The actual retail price for a surgical mask is Tk 5, while N95 masks cost Tk 30.

Wholesalers explained that the majority of face masks available in Bangladesh come from China, and that many, including the Chinese nationals, were stocking up on face masks to send the items back to the virus-hit country.

Drug traders said that earlier they would buy 50 packets of single-use masks at Tk 80–100, but the price had gone up to Tk 350–450. They claimed that as the supply was inadequate to meet the demand, the masks could not be retailed for less than Tk 15–30 each.

Sarwar Ali, a salesperson at a Malibagh-based pharmacy, said that single-use masks usually come from China, but the supply from China had stalled.

He also said that the Get Well brand of Pran-RFL Group also had a manufacturing base for such masks in

domestic market, but their supply was low.

Asadul Islam, a salesperson at a surgical store in the city’s Topkhana Road, said the sale of such masks had increased in the last two days. “On Thursday, we sold 12–15 boxes of face masks, with 50–100 pieces in a box. But even five days ago, we hardly sold three to five boxes a day.”

No shop or street vendor in Mouchak, Farmgate, Gulistan, and Mirpur areas had stocks of pollution-blocking N95 masks when the report was filed yesterday afternoon. Even surgical masks were a rare find amid huge demand for masks.

“Even on last Tuesday, we sold a box of 50 face masks for Tk 60. This is now being sold for Tk 350-400. Supply is low due to increasing demand. We now have to source the masks at an extra charge,” said Asadul.

Consumers alleged that some traders were taking advantage of the situation and demanding arbitrary prices.

Khurshed Alam, a wholesale trader at Topkhana Road, revealed that some retailers had started hoarding masks with the ill intention to sell them at higher prices as demand soars.

Md Oliur Rahman, who went to buy a surgical mask, said that one storekeeper asked him to pay Tk 50 for a filter mask, which cost Tk 25 last week. He expressed anger while also smelling foul play behind the abnormal price hike. “There is nobody to monitor the market,” he quipped.

Nevertheless, authorities have reaffirmed that there is no coronavirus-infected person in the country as of now.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Thursday asked everyone to stay alert, but to avoid getting panicked. He said that no Chinese nationals here and no Bangladeshi nationals in China were infected by the coronavirus.

The authority of medical entomology in Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said there was no need for panic as no case of the coronavirus had been detected in the country yet.

While talking to The Independent over telephone, Principal Scientific Officer of the IEDCR Dr ASM Alamgir said, “There is no need to panic as no coronavirus cases have been detected yet in Bangladesh. There is also no need to wear a face mask,” he said.

He, however, said that people could wear masks to remain safe from airborne and other contagious diseases.

On Thursday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said that not everyone needed to wear masks outdoors and that only those with colds and coughs should use masks.

Asked whether there was a mask crisis in the country, Maleque said that the Japanese government had promised to provide Bangladesh with seven million masks for free, which would ease the situation.

Demand for face masks spikes amid coronavirus fears

Physicians say there is no need to wear face masks as no coronavirus cases have appeared in Bangladesh

The business of face mask has taken an upturn of late in the local market amid growing concern over coronavirus outbreak as people are out to stave off any threat emanating from the deadly virus. The sudden rise in demand for face masks has increased their base price while also creating a supply shortage in the country. As of now, there has not been any case of coronavirus detection in the country. But people are still trying to safeguard themselves against the sudden global threat thereby prompting a section of the face mask sellers to capitalise on the growing alarm. Physicians say there is no need to use face masks as no coronavirus cases have been detected in Bangladesh. They, however, suggest wearing surgical masks properly as means of protection from airborne diseases and dust. Cases of coronavirus were first detected in Wuhan of China, and have since been reported in nearly a dozen of countries, including the United States of America (USA) and India. According to Chinese officials, the virus has killed at least 636 people so far and infected at least 31,161. Over the course of last few days, many people have been spotted wearing face masks in Dhaka. Visits to different areas of the city have revealed that the sales of different types of surgical face masks have increased with their prices getting spiralled in the past few days. The masks got sold out in most of the drugstores and surgical medicine shops in the capitals Shahbagh, College Gate, Malibagh, Farmgate, and Topkhana Road areas. The stores that still have such masks are selling them at an exorbitantly high price. The actual retail price for a surgical mask is Tk 5, while N95 masks cost Tk 30. Wholesalers explained that the majority of face masks available in Bangladesh come from China, and that many, including the Chinese nationals, were stocking up on face masks to send the items back to the virus-hit country. Drug traders said that earlier they would buy 50 packets of single-use masks at Tk 80100, but the price had gone up to Tk 350450. They claimed that as the supply was inadequate to meet the demand, the masks could not be retailed for less than Tk 1530 each. Sarwar Ali, a salesperson at a Malibagh-based pharmacy, said that single-use masks usually come from China, but the supply from China had stalled. He also said that the Get Well brand of Pran-RFL Group also had a manufacturing base for such masks in domestic market, but their supply was low. Asadul Islam, a salesperson at a surgical store in the citys Topkhana Road, said the sale of such masks had increased in the last two days. On Thursday, we sold 1215 boxes of face masks, with 50100 pieces in a box. But even five days ago, we hardly sold three to five boxes a day. No shop or street vendor in Mouchak, Farmgate, Gulistan, and Mirpur areas had stocks of pollution-blocking N95 masks when the report was filed yesterday afternoon. Even surgical masks were a rare find amid huge demand for masks. Even on last Tuesday, we sold a box of 50 face masks for Tk 60. This is now being sold for Tk 350-400. Supply is low due to increasing demand. We now have to source the masks at an extra charge, said Asadul. Consumers alleged that some traders were taking advantage of the situation and demanding arbitrary prices. Khurshed Alam, a wholesale trader at Topkhana Road, revealed that some retailers had started hoarding masks with the ill intention to sell them at higher prices as demand soars. Md Oliur Rahman, who went to buy a surgical mask, said that one storekeeper asked him to pay Tk 50 for a filter mask, which cost Tk 25 last week. He expressed anger while also smelling foul play behind the abnormal price hike. There is nobody to monitor the market, he quipped. Nevertheless, authorities have reaffirmed that there is no coronavirus-infected person in the country as of now. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Thursday asked everyone to stay alert, but to avoid getting panicked. He said that no Chinese nationals here and no Bangladeshi nationals in China were infected by the coronavirus. The authority of medical entomology in Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said there was no need for panic as no case of the coronavirus had been detected in the country yet. While talking to The Independent over telephone, Principal Scientific Officer of the IEDCR Dr ASM Alamgir said, There is no need to panic as no coronavirus cases have been detected yet in Bangladesh. There is also no need to wear a face mask, he said. He, however, said that people could wear masks to remain safe from airborne and other contagious diseases. On Thursday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said that not everyone needed to wear masks outdoors and that only those with colds and coughs should use masks. Asked whether there was a mask crisis in the country, Maleque said that the Japanese government had promised to provide Bangladesh with seven million masks for free, which would ease the situation.