When all other business is down, the demand for protective facemasks has witnessed sharp increase in the Valley with people taking every effective measure to insulate themselves from coronavirus.
However, the buyers complained that while the price offacemasks has increased, the quality of the product has declined.
“A simple facemask that would just cost Rs 10 to a customer,is now sold at Rs 40,” exclaimed Bashir Ahmad, an SMC employee who hadpurchased four facemasks for his family.
Experts rate N95 as the “best” mask which according to themcan filter 95% of airborne particles. “But its price has gone up as high as Rs500 from the earlier Rs 150,” they said.
Junaid Bhat, owner 24×7 Pharmacy here said they were rightnow running out of N95 facemasks. “Weused to buy a normal facemask for Rs 4, but now due to demand it costs us Rs 18and we sell it at Rs 20 to public.”
Nusrat Bashir, MSW researcher suggests that governmentshould “control the situation” and devise proper system for price control.
Pertinently, the Centre for Disease Control and Preventionhad initially suggested “homemade masks like bandanas or scarves as the lastresort if masks are not available”.
“N95 is an approved mask for corona but it is actually forthe infected patients or the suspected cases. People who have cold and coughsymptoms can also use it. This mask is essential for medical staff as theytreat positive and suspected cases on regular basis,” said Dr Abdul RashidItoo, physician and senior consultant. He said people who are not infectedshould use simple masks.