Amid the latest surge of Covid-19 cases, more individuals have been taking precautions by wearing face masks and conducting self-tests. Surprisingly, the prices of face masks and test kits have not increased and have even decreased for some brands.
An anonymous sales representative from a pharmacy chain disclosed that the price of certain types of face masks, such as the N95, has decreased by as much as 30%. “We are now selling the N95 at RM24 per 20-piece box,” he mentioned, attributing the price reduction to lower demand and excess stock.
Similarly, prices for test kits have also dropped, with some brands being sold as low as RM2.50 each, and two for RM6. The decreased demand earlier in the year due to a decline in Covid-19 cases and people feeling comfortable without masks is now picking up slightly with the recent increase in cases.
According to pharmacist Lim Chee Mun, there has been a recent increase in demand for face masks and test kits, particularly due to the rise in cases. “People are buying, especially face masks, but not as many as during the pandemic,” she added.
Meanwhile, at a government health clinic, there was a smaller turnout for booster vaccine shots than expected. A clinic representative expressed hope for more walk-ins, especially with the surge in cases.
State health committee chairman Daniel Gooi mentioned that there is sufficient stock of Covid-19 vaccines available and urged people to book an appointment through the MySejahtera app. Despite the rise in cases, the statistics on the Health Ministry website revealed that only 1.9% and 61.4% have taken the second and first booster doses respectively.
Apparently, most Covid-19 cases are showing mild symptoms, leading individuals to practice self-isolation at home. With the ongoing increase in cases, the demand for precautionary measures such as face masks, test kits, and booster shots is expected to rise in the near future.
