Consumer Affairs Ministry caps prices of masks, hand sanitisers amid Coronavirus outbreak

Ministry of Consumer Affairs has anunced urgent measures to curb spread of COVID-19 outbreak in India as cases in country rose to 258 on Saturday. Taking relief measures, government has slashed prices of essentials like sanitisers and mask in country. 

With soaring demand in markets, government has capped price of two-ply masks at Rs. 8 and three-ply mask at Rs. 10. Moreover, retail price of hand sanitisers of a 200 ml bottle is capped at Rs. 100. urgent pricing measures will stay in force till June 30 this year.

government had declared face masks and hand sanitisers as an essential commodity owing to its short amid rising fear of COVID-19. Discouraging hoarding of medical masks and hand sanitisers amid pandemic outbreak, Centre on Friday has stated that stringent action will be taken against those hoarding this essential protective equipment. India has 31 confirmed cases of coronavirus to date.   World Health Organisation is yet to declare COVID-19 a pandemic but has warned of a move in that direction should countries fail to arrest spread.

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Amid Coronavirus scare in India, demand for surgical masks has spiked leading to a surge in prices of masks up to nearly 300 percent. t only has this panic led to a surge in price and demand of surgical masks but it has also affected prices of N95 masks and sanitizers. Surgical masks that would sell at Rs10 are w allegedly being sold at Rs 40.

chemists fear a short in stock of said items in a few days as demand surged massively after government issued health advisory against deadly virus. Experts have been advising that those who are healthy should refrain from wearing and hoarding masks since y are more important for those who are infected with virus so as to arrest spread of disease. Masks are also more important for healthcare workers who need to safeguard mselves since y come in contact with patients on a daily basis.

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Coronavirus in India 

According to data on March 21 at 11 PM, Maharashtra has 52 cases, including three foreigners, while Kerala has recorded 40 cases, which include seven foreign nationals. Karnataka has 15 coronavirus patients. number of cases in Ladakh rose to 13 and Jammu and Kashmir four. Telangana has reported 19 cases, which include 11 foreigners. Rajasthan has also reported 17 cases, including that of two foreigners. Gujarat has reported seven cases so far.

Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have reported three cases each. West Bengal, Odisha, and Punjab each reported two cases while Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, and Chandigarh reported one case each. In Haryana, re are 17 cases, which include 14 foreigners. 

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(With PTI inputs)