Lashio – Face masks are high demand in Lashio due to coronavirus spread in Wuhan, China in early January and prices of face mask is increased, sources said.

“Face masks are in high demand in drug stores and convenience stores and some said Chinese also came to buy them. We heard they cannot manufacture face masks in line with demand. One pack of face masks was sold with Ks1,200 or 1,500 originally and now the price is increased to Ks20,000 or 30,000. Now most of the stores are shortages of face masks. We ordered them at Yangon and Mandalay but we cannot have the amount what we want,” said a seller from a drug store in Lashio market.

“Most of the buyers intended the face masks to re-sell back. Now many people are wearing face masks in Lashio,” said Ko Tu.

“Parents bought face masks to give the children in school. We have to buy them one shop after another as we cannot buy them in a single shop. The prices are not the same as I think some shop owners didn’t know about the price increase,” said Ko Tut, a parent of a student.