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China is down to ~8000 COVID patients, so that number is actually fine. It's supplying the rest of the world that's the problem.

http://ncov.dxy.cn/ncovh5/view/pneumonia




Based on the article’s last line, the problem is that it is very difficult to make a profit on masks.

When this thing blows over, no one will buy an N95 mask anymore, and the capital investment will have been wasted, and possibly never be recovered.

Probably the only people making any real money on masks are the hoarders, that collect and sell it for triple the price.


I disagree with the idea that no one will will an N95 mask after this threat ends. I personally use N95 masks in my shop all the time. I have a collection of masks for various filtration tasks including dust, welding gases, paint and organic vapors, and even an asbestos rated dust mask. Some of them are disposable N95 or N99 masks while others are half-face canister cartidge masks.

There will always be a market for masks and I think the price will go back down to normal levels - under $30 for 20 disposable masks.

Plus you have to consider that medical workers who use different N95 masks than I need, will always need protection from airborne threats. That won't change at all. The only change will be the threat itself.

People that hoarded these masks to gouge others should be held to account for that. I considered buying masks for my family but once I decided it might be a good idea, they were in short supply and the gougers had taken over the market. I currently have a few masks in my shop but almost all of them are used. I just bag them in a ziploc between uses so they don't absorb any fumes or get dusty or in the worst case, get pissed on by the rats that I'm trying to keep out of my shop.


I'd imagine (or at least hope) a lot of governments and hospitals around the world will be building up stockpiles after this all blows over.




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