Keeping stock at home: Sales assistant Lim Li Li (right) helping Vina Wanandi and her child pick out face masks and Covid-19 test kits at a pharmacy in George Town. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/ The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Although more people are masking up and doing self-tests due to the latest wave of Covid-19, prices of face masks and test kits have not gone up. In fact, some brands have become cheaper.
A sales representative for a pharmacy chain, who preferred not to be named, said the two items are cheaper now.
He said the price of certain types of face masks including the N95 is now 30% lower than it used to be.
“We are now selling the N95 at RM24 per 20-piece box. This is because there is less demand and we have more than enough stock,” he said.
Similarly, prices for test kits have dropped, he said, adding that one can get two for RM6 while some brands are being sold at only RM2.50 each.
He added that demand for both items declined earlier this year when there were fewer Covid-19 cases and people were comfortable going out without masks.
“Now, demand has picked up slightly because of the rise in cases,” he said.
Pharmacist Lim Chee Mun said demand for face masks and test kits has gone up recently.
“People are buying, especially face masks, but not as many as during the pandemic,” she said, adding that they only feel the need to mask up lately.
A check at a government health clinic saw one or two people getting their booster vaccine.
A clinic representative said they are hoping for more walk-ins.
“With cases going up, we expected more people to come in for booster shots, but it did not happen.”
State health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said there is ample stock of Covid-19 vaccines and encourage people to book an appointment via the MySejahtera app.
“Not many are coming for the second booster.
“According to statistics on the Health Ministry website as of Dec 27, only 1.9% and 61.4% took the second and first booster doses respectively,” he said, adding that those in high-risk groups are encouraged to take the shots.
It has been reported that Covid-19 cases are on the rise with most people showing mild symptoms and practising self-isolation at home.
