Coronavirus: Maharashtra Bans Sale of N95 Respirators (masks) Without Prescriptions

The FDA warned that serious action would be taken against those who are found selling masks at high prices or hoarding them.

Mumbai| In a new mandate to curb unnecessary demand, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration on Friday said that chemists cannot sell N95 masks without a doctor’s prescriptions.

The move comes after the state government received complaints about panicky people buying and hoarding N95 respirators. These masks are in heavy demand in India since the novel coronavirus cases started emerging in the country, according to a report in the Indian Express newspaper.

The run on protective equipment isn’t limited to Maharashtra. Agra’s district magistrate recently sealed three medical stores in a crackdown on black marketing. Respirator prices soared in Noida when two schools were closed (a student’s parent tested positive). The central government says those who hoard masks and sanitisers will face strict action.

The World Health Organisation’s view on masks is pretty clear: healthy people don’t need them unless they’re caring for the sick.

मास्क की कालाबाजारी करने वालों के खिलाफ़ सख़्त कार्रवाई हो!

न्यूज़ एजेंसी @ANI से बात करते हुए मैंने कहा कि बाज़ार में जो लोग मास्क के नाम पर जनता को प्रताड़ित कर रहे हैं और दाम बढ़ाकर बेच रहे हैं उनके खिलाफ़ सख़्त से सख़्त कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए।@MoHFW_INDIA @PMOIndia #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/pUIGg0WOlG

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) March 6, 2020

While the central government has warned medical shop owners against the hoarding and black marketing of protective equipment, the World Health Organisation has asked people to use masks rationally in its Q&A page on the deadly coronavirus.

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak kills nine in China; reaches other countries including the US

“WHO advises rational use of medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources and misuse of respirators. Use a mask only if you have respiratory symptoms (coughing or sneezing), have a suspected Covid-19 infection with mild symptoms, or are caring for someone with suspected Covid-19 infection. A suspected Covid-19 infection is linked to travel in areas where cases have been reported, or close contact with someone who has travelled in these areas and has become ill.”

Also, keep in mind that surgical (or medical) respirators can’t keep infectious droplets out; they help prevent you from making others sick. On the other hand, N95 respirators can keep out airborne particles but a run on such equipment during a public health emergency can create a dangerous scarcity for medical professionals.