Carrie Lam remark will add to face mask panic: DAB

Carrie Lam remark will add to face mask panic: DAB

Hong Kong's largest pro-government party, the DAB, has slammed Chief Executive Carrie Lam saying she has ordered officials not to wear masks unless they are sick, saying this will only add to panic in society over the lack of masks.



DAB lawmaker Holden Chow said the government should be more in touch with public sentiment as it combats the outbreak. He said Lam's comments will create more panic about the availability of face masks in Hong Kong.



The city has seen a shortage of face masks since the new coronavirus started spreading on the mainland and shops restocking them have seen people queuing up from early morning to snap up what is available.



Prices have also surged and scammers have also moved in to cash in on the demand, police have warned.



The DAB members held a rally outside the government headquarters, calling on the authorities to distribute face masks stored in government warehouses to people in need.



In a petition, the party said the government has 10 million masks in its stock, and it's irresponsible for it to do nothing and let market forces run free.



Chow said the government should distribute the masks and then take control of the supply after declaring them a restricted commodity.