Masks, disinfectants will not witness rise in prices, are sufficient for months: statement

CAIRO - 31 January 2021: Masks and disinfectants will not witness any rise in prices during the second wave of Covid-19, the Egyptian Consolidated Purchase Authority said on Wednesday.

Several companies and factories increased their produce of these simple tools to combat the virus, and a strategic stock of them is available to suffice for many months to come. Pharmacies and markets will continue to be inspected to ensure prices are not manipulated, the authority added.

Masks and disinfectants are even cheaper than during the first wave in March, thanks to new production lines increasing production capacity to nine million masks a day. Other masks are imported and the Ministry of Supply has distributed millions of fabric masks to contribute to meeting the demand and lowering prices, the statement continued.

The Health Ministry reported in a statement on Tuesday that 970 new coronavirus cases were detected, upping the total number of confirmed cases to 151,723.

Spokesman for the Health Ministry Khaled Megahed said 55 patients have died from the virus over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 8,304.

As many as 423 patients were discharged from isolation hospitals after receiving necessary medical care, taking the number of recovered cases to 119,635 so far, the spokesman said.