Martha Taumata Faavae
The medical advise is for people to protect from the coronavirus by wearing masks. The National Emergency Operational Centre, NEOC, is taking it one step further by pushing for people to sew their own masks.
The call to mask up took on a sense of urgency when two returning Samoans were tested positive for coronavirus, luckily the viral infection was dying out and posed no risk of spreading.
Still it promoted a massive swing as people took to wearing masks to work and in public places.
Masks are available from shops. For the disposable masks they cost from 60 sene to $1. For masks which can be washed and used for a lengthy period of time they would cost more –from $2 to $3.
For those who cannot afford the masks from the shops there is another option. They can make their own.
This is the advice NEOC is giving out.
Chairman of NEOC Agafili Shem Leo told Newsline that people should make their own masks if they could not afford the masks in the shops. They can make the masks from the materials they have in their homes Agafili added.
Agafili said that people should choose material that the dust would not permeate easily if making their own masks. This is important for the purpose of the mask is to protect a person from airborne bacteria.
It was noted there was an increase in the price of masks in some of shops with the two men testing positive. Some locally sewn masks being sold for $4.
The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour MCIL said that masks are not in the Price Control List.
The choice is left to the consumers to decide where to purchase and the price range of their own choosing.
