GUWAHATI: In the midst of coronavirus threat, the N-95 masks as well as hand sanitizers are fast selling out in pharmacies in the city.
Amidst the skyrocketing sales of these masks and hand sanitizes in Guwahati, residents are finding it difficult to get their hands on the N-95 masks or any normal mask.
“We are getting a lot of customers for N-95 masks in our shop and our stock is fast selling out. To add to this, people from Guwahati are buying masks from here and sending them to their relatives living in different places like Rajasthan, Delhi etc,” said an employee of New Life Pharmacy in Ulubari.
In another chemist shop the owner said, "We are out of stock for face mask, however we have hand sanitizers of different brands."
"The hand sanitizers which the govt has promised to provide at Rs. 100 will take atleast 2 days to hit the market, " he added.
It is to be mentioned that the Centre has fixed the price of hand sanitizers and face masks with a view to prevent sellers from over-charging and hoarding these items in the midst of the coronavirus scare.
The union minister for consumer affairs, Ram Vilas Paswan, said on Friday, March 20 that a 200 ml bottle of hand sanitizer cannot be sold for more than Rs 100 and added that the cost of face masks cannot exceed Rs 10 per piece.
However, in Guwahati hand sanitizers are being sold at a minimum of Rs. 200 for 100 ml bottle which again varies from brand to brand. On the other hand face masks are been sold at a whooping price of Rs. 300 irrespective of the make.
