Pharmacies in Cyprus have sold out of surgical masks while stocks of antiseptic gels are running low amid heightened concerns over coronavirus, philenews reports.
No cases of coronavirus have been reported in Cyprus. Screening measures are in force at ports of entry for individuals from high risk destinations — China, northern Italy, South Korea, Iran and Japan, where the most coronavirus cases have been recorded.
However, pharmacies in Cyprus have sold out and have no indication when more masks will be delivered, the president of the Pharmacists Association Eleni Piera Isseyeg told philenews.
She said that pharmacies always stock up in anticpation of the flu season when sales tend to increase. But the outbreak of coronavirus abroad has prompted extra purchases.
Issayeg said that similar problems have arisen elsewhere in Europe as no market could have predicted the huge spike in demand.
She urged prudence in buying and using masks so that the problem can be resolved and those who really need the masks can acquire them.
Other pharmacists told philenews that with news of the coronavirus outbreak, many non-Cypriots, mostly Chinese permanent residents had rushed to buy quantities of masks which they sent to their relatives abroad.
There was also considerable demand among parents of Cypriot students abroad, primarily in the UK.
Meanwhile, stocks of antisceptics are also running low at pharmacies.
Read more
https://in-cyprus.com/coronavirus-passengers-from-northern-italy-south-korea-japan-and-iran-to-be-screened/
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