‘Sufficient supply of face masks in Sibu for now’

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A young boy dons a face mask as fears continue to grow over the recent novel coronavirus outbreak. Bernama File Photo

SIBU: There is a sufficient supply of face masks here thus far, says Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Sibu chief Kelyn Bolhassan.

“There is no panic buying (of face masks),” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

Kelyn was asked to comment on whether there is adequate stock of face masks including N95 in the market here.

Meanwhile, in light of the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), there is an expected surge in demand for face masks.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye has advised members of the public to observe personal hygiene, wear surgical masks, and avoid going to public places if they are showing the symptoms.

He also pointed out that there is no need for one to use a N95 face mask as either a surgical mask or 3-ply mask will do.

According to Dr Lee, the purpose of the mask is to block large-particle droplets from reaching the wearer’s mouth and nose as well as to reduce exposure of the wearer’s respiratory secretion and saliva so that it would not spread to others.

Meanwhile, international news agency AFP yesterday reported that the death toll of the viral outbreak has increased to 80 in Hubei, China, with the number of total confirmed cases nationwide at 2,744.

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei and has been identified as the source of the virus which has spread across the world.