How long should I wear the mask? Professor Zhang Wenhong: Be extremely vigilant and expect to wear it for another 1 to 2 months.
It can be said that the domestic new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic prevention and control has achieved phased results. , but as the epidemic situation spreads around the world, masks have been out of stock globally. The shortage of meltblown cloth, the “heart” of mask production, is still prominent.
A drug store mask costs 2,200 yuan each, and the price is still rising
According to Spanish “20 Minutes” news, FFP2 and FFP3 masks can effectively block the new coronavirus (EU standard, FFP2 type is N95 mask, which can block 95% of non-oily particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns and above. The blocking rate of FFP3 masks (98%) prices have been rising since the outbreak.
After cases appeared in Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal and other places in Spain, the number of local masks The price has increased even more exaggeratedly. The unit price of FFP2 masks sold in pharmacies has reached 300 euros, which is about 2,200 yuan.
Due to the strong demand, the price of masks in local online channels has also skyrocketed. The price of a pack of 60 masks sold by a Chinese seller on the local Amazon website has reached 960 euros. Approximately RMB 7,400. The price of a pack of 50 sold by a seller in Hong Kong has reached 800 euros, which is about 6,200 yuan.
Although prices are rising, shortages are still the norm. It is reported that Spanish pharmacies are in a shortage of masks, and you need to register and queue to buy them!
There is a shortage of masks in pharmacies, and the quantity is seriously insufficient
Under normal circumstances , the average selling price of masks is around 5 euros, or about 35 yuan each.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Spain has been in shortage of masks. Chinese people living locally purchased masks in large quantities and sent them back to relatives in China. With confirmed cases in Spain, the demand for such masks has increased sharply. Local pharmacies have announced that there is a serious shortage of mask products and have even established a waiting list, announcing that they need to register and queue to purchase masks.
According to the Three Korea Observer, as the epidemic situation escalated, South Korean people lined up in long lines to buy masks, and some people cried because they could not buy masks.
On February 24, long queues for masks appeared in many places in Seoul, South Korea. Although many people arrived early in the morning, they were still unable to buy them. After receiving the masks, some people argued with the store clerk, while others covered their faces and cried. The epidemic continues to escalate, and people are becoming more and more cynical, triggering a “mask panic.”
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 57-year-old Korean Kim went to the post office and other public sales points in order to buy masks, but in the end she still found nothing. Tears said: “Yesterday, my husband and I waited for more than an hour and couldn’t buy a mask. I was so sad. My immunity is very weak and I am taking immunity medicine. I don’t have a mask, which is like a lifeline. I am very angry and very sad.” depressed”.
In addition, there is Japan, where masks have not only been sold at sky-high prices, but many drugstores have also put up “out of stock” slogans. According to TBS News, Japanese mask companies are currently operating 24 hours a day to ensure supply and gradually resume imports from China. At the same time, they ensure that the weekly output of masks will exceed 100 million, and from March, the supply will increase to 600 million.
In addition to Spain, South Korea and Japan falling into a mask shortage, according to CCTV News: Masks in American pharmacies are at ridiculous prices and are not in stock.
United States: 209 yuan/piece! The price of masks is outrageous
CCTV reporters reported that due to excessive demand, major online e-commerce platforms such as Amazon are currently out of stock, and offline pharmacies are also out of stock. The reporter ran Masks are not available in many offline pharmacies. The American people interviewed by the reporter said that the price of local masks is ridiculously high, 5 pieces for 149 US dollars, which is nearly 209 yuan per piece in RMB, and many pharmacies are out of stock. Customers cannot buy it at a high price.
There is a shortage of melt-blown cloth, the “heart” of masks. When will it be restored?
We all know that the raw material melt-blown cloth, as the “heart” of mask production, is currently out of stock globally and is also in stock. Prices keep rising.
In other words, the current production capacity of melt-blown materials and melt-blown non-woven fabrics has become the biggest obstacle restricting the production capacity of masks. Because of the two major�The output of materials is low, and it was only in a short period of time that it could not meet the needs of mask manufacturers. In addition, tracing the meltblown cloth industry chain, low production capacity also causes price increases by middlemen.
In addition, we should be wary of substandard melt-blown cloth confusing the market, and many parties are also establishing supervision mechanisms.
So, let’s solve the question that the public is most concerned about: When can we buy masks in pharmacies? Behind the scenes, we need to first solve the problem of low production capacity of meltblown cloth, the raw material for masks.
Sinopec will quickly launch ten meltblown cloth production lines!
Faced with the shortage of meltblown cloth, Sinopec also quickly took action! On February 24, Sinopec made a decision to invest 200 million yuan to quickly launch ten meltblown cloth production lines! Alleviating the problem of low production capacity of meltblown fabrics in the market!
In addition to melt-blown cloth, China’s mask production capacity has also been greatly improved! On March 2, the National Development and Reform Commission stated that the daily production capacity of masks reached 110 million pieces, and the daily output reached 116 million pieces! It effectively alleviates the protection needs of front-line medical staff and further ensures national epidemic prevention and control!
For the country, good news can be said to be coming one after another! Domestic meltblown cloth production has increased, and the mask production capacity has exceeded 100 million, which has effectively alleviated the market shortage. However, from a global perspective, the foreign epidemic situation is getting worse!
As of March 3, the cumulative number of confirmed cases abroad has exceeded 10,000! Nearly 60 countries and regions have experienced epidemics! The number of infections continues to rise in South Korea, Italy, Japan, Germany, France, Iran, and the United States. Iran has attracted global attention with its extremely high case fatality rate.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated on February 28 that the risk level of the global spread and impact of COVID-19 has been raised to “very high.” Moreover, affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the global supply and inventory of personal protective equipment are currently insufficient. In particular, the supply of medical masks, respirators, protective clothing and goggles will soon be in short supply.
It is hard to find a “mask” all over the world, and masks that are not in stock are just hooligans!
Recently, the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Poland has received several reports from Chinese companies or individuals that some Polish companies or individuals have defrauded others by pretending to steal the names of legally registered companies or bankrupt companies, forging registration documents, etc. They falsely claimed that they could export medical masks and other protective products, but failed to deliver the goods and lost contact after receiving payment, causing direct economic losses to Chinese companies or individuals.
For this reason, Chinese companies and individuals are particularly reminded to further enhance their risk awareness and take risk precautions when purchasing from abroad. They are especially alert to foreign companies or individuals that claim to be able to provide large quantities of medical protective equipment. It is understood that the supply of protective equipment such as medical masks in Poland is becoming increasingly tight. It is recommended to fully understand the background and credit standing of trading partners through lawyers or banks before signing a contract and making external payments; carefully negotiate contract terms to avoid damage to interests.
▼Announcement from the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Poland
With the epidemic abroad It’s getting more and more serious. Many countries have already restricted the export of anti-epidemic materials. Please don’t believe “I have a large number of masks and a large number of forehead thermometers.” In this case, anyone who doesn’t have them in stock is just a hooligan! </p
