Even medical staff can't get hold of masks: lawmaker

Even medical staff can't get hold of masks: lawmaker

Pierre Chan speaks to Janice Wong

Medical sector lawmaker Pierre Chan on Friday called on the government to share its supply of surgical masks with healthcare workers.



He said that with the shortage of masks in the market, many medical workers, including himself, have been finding it difficult to get hold of surgical masks for use outside of work.



He told RTHK's Janice Wong that the government releasing some of its supplies would help boost morale among medical workers, and would help prevent the spread of diseases from hospitals to the community.



"At least morale will be pushed up a little bit and it decreases the transmission and infection between the hospitals and the community," he said.



Chan's call comes after Acting Chief Executive Matthew Cheung said on Thursday that the government has stockpiled three months’ worth of face masks.



The Consumer Council has urged traders to be socially responsible amid the new virus outbreak, and not to raise the prices of face masks to "outrageous levels".



The watchdog inspected shops on Thursday and found big variations in the price of masks on sale.