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Masks, disinfectants in low supply as China virus spreads

   By: AFP |
   Updated: Jan 22, 2020 11:18 PM

More people than usual were seen wearing masks on the streets and several
stores had run out of stock.

   Masks, Disinfectants, China virus, Pharmacy, Beijing, Shanghai,
   Surgical mask, SARS, Virus, Lunar New Year, Travel, Coronavirus, China,
   Wuhan Masks, Disinfectants, China virus, Pharmacy, Beijing, Shanghai,
   Surgical mask, SARS, Virus, Lunar New Year, Travel, Coronavirus, China,
   Wuhan Masks, Disinfectants, China virus, Pharmacy, Beijing, Shanghai,
   Surgical mask, SARS, Virus, Lunar New Year, Travel, Coronavirus, China,
   Wuhan The rush to step up protective measures against the new
   coronavirus came after it infected more than 400 people across China.
   (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

   Pharmacies in Beijing and Shanghai were running low on surgical masks
   and disinfectants Wednesday as a deadly new SARS-like virus spread
   ahead of the busy Lunar New Year travel period.

   More people than usual were seen wearing masks on the streets and
   several stores AFP visited had run out of stock — to the dismay of
   customers.
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   An employee at a pharmacy in Beijing told AFP it had run out of
   surgical masks two days ago.

   “When it hit close to 300 cases, people realised it was serious,” he
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   “It happened so suddenly; we didn’t prepare any back-up and existing
   stock was quickly depleted.” A batch of masks that arrived on Wednesday
   morning sold out in just half an hour, he added.

   The store still had other masks in stock but these were not designed
   for surgical purposes.

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   Beijing’s Market Supervision and Regulation Bureau issued a statement
   on its WeChat account Wednesday with guidelines for businesses, to help
   “ensure the stability of prices for goods such as masks and other items
   related to the epidemic”.

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   “We know how to protect ourselves and ventilate our homes. It’s close
   to the Spring Festival too, and we have to go house-visiting. If
   relatives are worried, we will wear masks in their houses.”

   Wang Suping, 50, who works at an arts school, said: “These days, I wear
   masks even in places that are not too crowded although I wouldn’t have
   done so in the past.” She was not anxious as she had medicine and masks
   at home, she added.

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     Health 3

     Masks disinfectants in low supply as China virus&nbspspreads

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