Demand for face masks rise in Peshawar amid coronavirus fears

• Face mask vendors say mask is exported from China and the price of mask has risen due to export closure.
• The fabric mask is being sold for Rs50 whereas, plastic mask are available for Rs20.

The demand for face masks has risen in Peshawar as fear of novel coronavirus grips the country. The rise in demand and limited availability of the product has lead to increase in prices.

As per details, a suspected case of the coronavirus in Peshawar has caused fear among the citizens, that are now rushing to purchase face masks to protect themselves from this life-threatening virus.

Face mask vendors say mask is exported from China and the price of mask has risen due to export closure. The fabric mask is being sold for Rs50 whereas, plastic mask are available for Rs20. As per health experts, face masks are not only essential for the prevention of coronavirus, but is also helpful to fight pollutants.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus the death toll in China jumped above 360 on Monday. The virus has spread to more than 24 countries, despite many governments imposing unprecedented travel bans on people coming from China.

So far, no cases have been confirmed in Pakistan. However, four Pakistani students in Wuhan, China have been diagnosed with the virus.

The epidemic has dented the Chinese economy, hit by travel curbs and business shut-downs in wake of the virus.

The Chinese have effectively quarantined Wuhan, sealing off roads and shutting down public transport. The city – where the virus is thought to have emerged late last year in a market illegally trading wildlife – was about to open two new hospitals for virus patients, state broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua news agency reported.