Sanitizers vanish, mask prices jump amid panic over coronavirus in Delhi

People who could not get the masks in the market are roaming with tying their handkerchiefs on the face and refrain themselves from visiting a crowded place

The hand sanitizers have disappeared from the market and the price of masks has shot up multiple times as people resorted to panic buying amid the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. “Hand sanitizers have disappeared from the market. We have given the order for it but it is difficult to get them. Masks which were earlier sold for Rs 50-60, are now being sold at Rs 100-150,” Shubham, a medical store owner said.

People who could not get the masks in the market are roaming with tying their handkerchiefs on the face and refrain themselves from visiting a crowded place. Speaking to ANI Haider Ali, a resident said, “I Had come here to buy the mask but the shops have run out of them so I have tied this hanky on my face. The disease is so deadly that people are afraid of shaking hands and going to public places.”

Chemist association treasurer of Nai Basti, Mohit Goyal said that as coronavirus has also been detected in India, there is panic among the people which led to the increase in demand of masks and sanitizers and the supply is low. “There is panic among the people about coronavirus and demand for masks has increased, due to which the price of them have inflated. The N-95 mask which used to sell at Rs 50-60 but now it has been selling at the rate of Rs 280-300,” Mohit said.

The outlets of Apollo Pharmacy in Noida have also gone out of masks after the demand increased. “We have been assuring customers that masks will be available soon. There are two types of masks one is a three-layer mask and another is N-95 mask, both are not available in any outlet of Apollo in pan Noida,” an employee of Apollo Pharmacy said.

Over 1000 dead in mainland China, 2,097 new confirmed Coronavirus cases

According to the SCMP report, the virus has spread to at least 24 countries, sickened more than 42,000 people worldwide

The Health Authorities in China’s Hubei province on Tuesday (local time) reported 103 more deaths and 2,097 newly confirmed cases of Coronavirus, reported South China Morning Post. With this, the death toll in the epicentre of the outbreak Hubei has risen to 974, while the total number of deaths in mainland China has reached 1,011, according to CNN. One person in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines has died due to the virus.

According to the SCMP report, the virus has spread to at least 24 countries, sickened more than 42,000 people worldwide. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday appeared before the public for the first time since the coronavirus epidemic started and said the government would prevent large-scale layoffs amid the outbreak.

Jinping inspected efforts by community workers in Beijing to contain the virus, visited a local hospital that offers treatment to coronavirus patients and video-chatted with frontline medical staff in Wuhan, according to state broadcaster CCTV.