Free face mask distribution sparks a melee in Jordan

Free face mask distribution sparks a melee in Jordan

Each elderly person is given five face masks. Photo: RTHK

Police on Saturday stepped in to maintain order outside a restaurant in Jordan, which handed out 10,000 face masks to people for free in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak.



Arguments broke out when some elderly people became agitated when they were told all masks had been handed out.



Restaurant staff had to bring the shutter down when the crowd refused to leave and some people attempted to rush into the restaurant.



A man, surnamed Wong, said he got five face masks after waiting for one and a half hours.



He criticised the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, saying she’s incapable of helping Hong Kong citizens. He questioned why the government couldn't hand out masks to people, something even a restaurant could do.



Hong Kong is witnessing an acute shortage of face masks and people had queued up for hours when some shops announced they had received new stock.



The World Health Organisation warned on Friday the world is running out of masks and other protective equipment against the novel coronavirus.