Transcript
The US Surgeon General Doctor Jerome Adams has a simple request for Americans concerned about the spread of coronavirus: stop by a masks!
Adams tweeted the message after so many Americans bought masks in bulk it led to shortages.
Store shelves are coming up short in hand sanitizer, disinfectant and most of all face masks.
Government officials say face masks aren’t necessary if you’re healthy and don’t entirely provide protection against the coronavirus.
Even with the information, stores are struggling to keep up with demand.
Companies like Home Depot, Rite Aid, Target, Lowe’s, CVS and Walgreens all tell CNN they are working to expedite product to their stores.
Home Depot is limiting 10 masks per customer.
And sites like Amazon shutdown suppliers accused of price gouging.
The need for a sense of security is also driving internet searches.
Helium 10, a software company that assists Amazon retailers, tells CNN Amazon users have searched for the word “N-95 mask” more than 862,000 times in the past 30 days, significantly up from last month.
The federal government announced it’s taking steps to increase availability of N-95 respirator masks and will prioritize them for healthcare workers.
For now health officials say your best line of defense is simple and cheap: wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze.
Posted – 3.2.20