Coronavirus: Govt Declares Face Masks & Hand Sanitizers “Essential Commodities” with Rising Positive Cases

New Delhi, March 14, 2020:

The Government has declared face masks and hand sanitizers as “essential” commodities for the next 100 days to boost supply of these products and prevent hoarding in the wake of rising cases of novel coronavirus in India.

The virus has so far claimed two lives in India – one being a 76-year-old resident of Karnataka, the other is a 68-year-old woman from Delhi. The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China in December, 2019 has claimed as many as 5,436 deaths worldwide, and 67,889 people are currently affected. 6,082 (or 9 percent) are said to be in serious/critical condition.

Considering the gravity of the situation, the centre has invoked the Disaster Management Act to ensure price regulation and availability of surgical and protective masks, hand sanitizers and gloves. The 2 ply & 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand sanitizers have been brought under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, empowering States to regulate the production, distribution, and prices of these items and also crackdown on hoarding and black-marketing.

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The central, State and Union Territories governments can now regulate the production, quality, and distribution of the essential commodities for the smooth sale and availability of these items. Additionally, it empowers governments to carry out operations against speculators and those involved in overpricing and black marketing.

It may be mentioned here that the total number of positive COVID-19 cases has soared to 83 till the filing of this report. The State Governments have prohibited mass gatherings in order to combat further spread of the virus. Educational institutions have also been directed to remain closed till March 31. The Indian government has issued advisories for tourists with helpline numbers to reach out to in case of any emergency.

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In India, eleven states - Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala, are the worst-hit so far. The US Embassy and Consulates in the country have cancelled all visa appointments from March 16 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. A statement issued by the US Embassy here said, "US Mission India posts, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, are cancelling immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments from March 16, 2020, onward."

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has suspended its three-day annual meeting of its highest decision-making body scheduled to begin on Saturday. The annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), which was to be held in Bengaluru from March 15-17 to decide on the organisation's future course of action, was also cancelled.

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Shopping malls, theaters, night clubs, pubs, and swimming pools in Bengaluru have been closed till next week amid COVID-19 pandemic. Some Pharmacies in Delhi have reportedly stopped selling N95 masks due to increase in prices.

Special isolation wards have been set up in public places like railways to attend to cases. Maharashtra has also shut all its theatres, gyms, etc. due to COVID-19.

States like Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh have sealed their international borders to keep coronavirus away. The region has not yet been affected by the virus. The State governments of the Northeast region are taking the necessary precautions to screen people for the virus.

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