People In Hong Kong Are Selling Used Face Masks and It Could Help Accelerate the Coronavirus Outbreak

Face masks are in high demand as the covid-19 virus continues to spread. So much so that people are picking them out of trash cans to sell for profit, sparking outrage.

Photo by Macau Photo Agency on Unsplash

Joyce Leung also contributed to this article.

Several videos and pictures from China and Hong Kong that allegedly show people selling or repackaging used surgical face masks have sparked outrage among citizens, who call it “irresponsible” and “disgusting”. People are angry, and many worry that the trend may accelerate the spread of the new Coronavirus, or the covid-19, which has already infected more than 67,000 people worldwide and killed 1,527, predominantly in China.

In one video from mainland China, bystanders threatened a man with calling the police after he was caught repackaging used masks, presumably to pass them off them as new and sell for a quick buck. In a second video, a group of people confronted a woman on the streets of Hong Kong, accusing her of collecting masks from bins along the street. In a picture from Hong Kong, a man is seen reaching into a public trash bin while holding tens of unpackaged face masks in his other hand.

A group of people are allegedly re-packaging used disposable surgical face masks

While it is not confirmed that the man’s intent was to resell the masks, people have raised suspicion after dirty masks have been found in fresh packaging at stores and street vendors. In fact, the recycled masks have become so widespread that many citizens urge one another to mark used masks with sharpie as a warning, to rip off the ear-strips that hold the masks in place, or to cut used face masks in half before disposing of them.

Ann Kwan, a 27-year-old banker who lives in Hong Kong, said that she recognised the appeal of selling used face masks for a quick profit, but that “it’s definitely a very bad thing to do, especially in such disastrous times as these.”

“It’s an opportunity for them to make easy money,” she said. “Of course it’s not ethical, but because of the government’s weak response, and because of people’s lack of confidence in them, this kind of black business is going to happen.”

Health risks

Disposable surgical face masks are designated as disposable for a reason. They are designed for one-time-use only, and reusing them defeats their purpose. Masks that have already been used may be carrying dangerous bacteria, hence posing a significant health and contagion risk, because it could help accelerate the spread of the virus even further. For that reason, health experts generally warn heavily against recycling them.

In an official statement by the World Health Organization on January 28th this year, they directly warned against recycling surgical face masks. “Do not reuse single-use masks,” they wrote. “Discard single-use masks after each use and dispose of them immediately upon removal.”

They even cautioned against simply touching used face masks, advising that any physical contact should immediately be followed up by cleansing your hands to avoid contagion. “Whenever you inadvertently touch a used mask, clean hands by using an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water if visibly soiled,” they wrote.

A shortage

Face masks are in severe shortage in the region as people take every precaution to shield themselves from contagion, prompting hour-long queues at retailers. One man went viral in Hong Kong after got emotional on local television because he couldn’t secure masks for his wife and himself. When asked by the interviewer why he wasn’t wearing a mask, he said, tearing up, that “I don’t have any. Not one.”

“I can’t really be worried. We just have to go out less,” he added, rubbing his eyes. “I have queued three or four times, but I still couldn’t buy any masks.”