The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced that everyone need not wear a mask via Twitter. The Ministry has also conveyed who should wear masks, and how.
People should wear a mask only if, they have symptoms (cough,fever or difficulty in breathing). If they are caring for a COVID-19 suspect/confirmed patient or if they are health-workers attending to patients with respiratory symptoms.The Ministry has also conveyed how to effectively use and dispose masks through an infographic in its Twitter Page.
The Print reported that owning to the demand for masks in the country, 8 training centers under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, India have started making cloth masks. Per day 500 masks are produced and in the last few weeks 28,000 masks were produced.
The cost of surgical masks have shot up several fold in the last few days in Coimbatore due to precaution that people are undertaking; like storing surgical masks in home. Hand Sanitizers have also been on a demand in the city. The Hindu reported that a common surgical mask that costed just Rs. 3 a piece is being sold upto Rs.18.