Published March 1

Americans worried about coronavirus don't need to buy face masks, US surgeon
general says

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   Americans worried about the coronavirus outbreak shouldn’t buy face
   masks to protect themselves against it because the masks
   are ineffective for those without symptoms -- and the purchases deplete
   the supplies available for medical professionals, the U.S. surgeon
   general said Saturday.

   “Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!” Dr. Jerome M. Adams wrote on
   Twitter, addressing fears over the spread of the virus in the U.S.

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   sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”

   Adams was referring to the recent spike in sales of face masks,
   including N95 respirator masks, that has led to price gouging and
   potential shortages.

   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says masks should be
   worn only by medical professionals and those with the virus, adding the
   best way to stay healthy is to wash your hands and avoid touching your
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   equipment they need to do their jobs.”

   CORONAVIRUS FEARS SEND FACE MASK PRICES SKYROCKETING, PROMPT WARNINGS
   ABOUT PRICE GOUGING

   “There are limits to how a mask can protect you from being infected,”
   he added. “The most important thing everyone can do is wash your hands,
   keep your hands away from your face and observe very precise hygiene.”

   After some sellers on Amazon recently marked up face masks to nearly
   four times their regular price, the site warned sellers that price
   gouging could get them thrown off the website.
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   sold out of some brands, CBS News reported.

   “There is no role for these masks in the community,” Robert Redfield,
   director of the CDC, told Congress on Thursday, according to The Times.
   “These masks need to be prioritized for health care professionals that
   as part of their job are taking care of individuals.”

   Last week, Prestige Ameritech, the largest manufacturer of face masks
   in the U.S., said it can't keep up with the demand.

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   Vice President Mike Pence, who President Trump tapped this week to head
   the administration's coronavirus task force, said in a news conference
   Saturday, "We have more than 40 million masks available today. ...
   We’ve contracted now with [manufacturer] 3M to — 35 million more masks
   per month will be produced, and we’re also going to be working with
   other manufacturers.”
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   “We have decided to open an investigation after media reports of the
   insane prices fetched up by these products (masks and gels) on online
   sales websites in the last two days,” Milan deputy chief prosecutor
   Tiziana Siciliano told Reuters.

   Many pharmacies in the country say they have run out of masks and hand
   sanitizer, leaving consumers with online purchases as their only
   recourse.