Face mask supply in some Manila stores running out —students

Some students in the city of Manila scrambled over short supply of face masks early Friday morning, hours after the Department of Health announced the first confirmed case of the dreaded novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the Philippines.

“Unang Balita” reported that some stores in the city have run out of supply of surgical face masks that students were looking for before reporting for class.

Face masks were out of stock in several stores in Manila, GMA News’ Vonne Aquino reported.

Students at a pharmacy along Taft Avenue said they failed to buy face masks, and some stores and pharmacies in the city have placed signage announcing their supplies have run out.

“As of now kasi lahat ng pinagtanungan naming store out of stock na po ang masks,” student Ainiel Ibañez told Unang Balita.

Ibañez said the assistant pharmacist at the store said they are running short of supply because of the high demand.

“Sa ngayon, talagang walang stock, wala din kaming makuhaan. Kahit saang company walang makuhaan,” assistant pharmacist Erickson Pring was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, some pharmacies said they have enough stock of sanitary alcohol.

On the other hand, pharmacy assistants at some stores early on Friday were wearing protective masks, saying several Chinese customers are coming over to buy face masks.

Earlier, the city government of Manila announced it would distribute face masks in schools.

—LBG, GMA News