Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: People using bras and grapefruits as masks amid shortage of reusable masks in China
The coronavirus has killed 304 people and infected nearly 15,000 globally. China, one of the countries where the virus has spread in all regions is facing shortage of face masks and terrified as they are, people have decided to improvise. Now, Chinese locals are using everything between bras and grape fruit shells as a replacement for mask. Pictures of residents in China using plastic bottles, helmets and sanitary pad fitted face masks in the hopes of warding off the deadly virus are doing the rounds.
Pictures on social media site Weibo features individuals in metro trains wearing water bottles over their heads. We also see a man in a plane seated with his helmet on, while another man on a motorcycle, who should otherwise use a helmet, is seen wearing a water bottle.
There are pictures of a woman using orange peel as a mask on the face due to shortage of surgical masks in the country. While people's desperation has led to them taking such absurd measures to keep themselves safe, pranksters on social media see this as an opportunity to show off their skills in coming up with more humorous options. One even suggested that people use iceberg lettuce as a face mask.
This desperation has also come as a result of being warned not to reuse their masks. Many had posted pictures of boiling the masks that they have used already and lining them up to dry to be reused again.
According to a report in The Sun, medical experts have said that reusing the mask will reduce the effectiveness of the mask while a health official from Gansu province added that a face mask should not be used more than 4 hours.
50 million Chinese residents are reportedly on lock-down. So in a few provinces including Guangdong, individuals have been instructed to always wear a mask at the risk of penalty.
The government of Hong Kong has ordered prison laborers to work around the clock in order to produce more surgical masks as the demand has increased manifold.
On the other hand, there are medical experts who also warn that surgical masks may not entirely help in stopping the spread of the virus. Dr Mark Parrish was quoted as saying, "The face masks that we see people wearing are surgical face masks." The regional medical director of the medical and travel security firm, International SOS, Parrish also added, "As you breathe in and out you're breathing air from outside the face mask. So it will stop a little bit but not hugely."