Melbourne coronavirus: Scramble to buy masks as item made mandatory

As Melbourne's deadline for mandatory face masks looms, panicked residents are “climbing over each other” to snag the essential item.

Panicked residents in Victoria’s coronavirus hot spots have been rushing to buy face masks before wearing them out of doors becomes mandatory.

Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement that from 11.59pm on Wednesday, those not wearing masks or facial coverings will receive a $200 fine.

As a result, shops in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire have seen an influx of customers this afternoon rushing to buy the soon-to-be essential item.

Victoria recorded 363 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.

On Twitter, people have described scenes of total chaos and wild queues as people “climb over each other” to buy either pre-made masks or the equipment needed to make their own.

“It is going NUTS here; car park full and queue of about 50 people waiting to get in!” one wrote, sharing a photo from a queue outside a Spotlight store.

“Lines up to 30 minutes at Spotlight in Springvale. Sewing machines almost gone. Everyone buying fabric to make their own masks after mandatory rules set for residents in Melbourne lockdown areas,” Herald Sun journalist Brooke Grebert-Craig wrote.

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Victoria’s new mandatory face mask rule has caused a frenzy for the essential item in stores across Melbourne. Picture: Twitter

Sewing machines are nearly sold out just hours after the announcement was made. Picture: Twitter

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“Massive queue outside Chemist Warehouse … presumably getting masks just hours after mandatory masking in Victoria announced even though doesn’t kick in for another three days,” another tweeted.

“I was just in Chemist Warehouse and they are selling small boxes of disposable masks for $50. People climbing over each other getting as many as they can carry. Not good,” a Melburnian tweeted of his experience.

Some expressed concern over the mad rush to snag a mask before the mandatory rule came in, pointing out the shopping expedition was in contrast to the government’s “stay home” message.

Conflicting info from the Auatralian Govt! #COVID19Vic #MaskUpMelbourne now half of melb is going out to panic buy on masks coz theres 3 days til being fined. Do you want us at home or out at shopping centres now? Make up your mind! pic.twitter.com/m1lITBBQOi

— V Greek (@greekopoulos) July 19, 2020

Ahh yes. The #Masks panic buying has begun. The irony of 100's of people lining up to buy something to keep them safe in large crowds.
I can see the headlines now
Mask panic buying causes surge in cases.

— Dem Fancy Productions (@DemFancy) July 19, 2020

Great idea in Melbourne. Send loads of panicked people into cramped Chemist warehouse stores to buy masks. Perfect conditions to spread the virus

— Wayne Ellery (@WayneEllery) July 19, 2020

Friend posted this pic of people in Melbourne lining up for spotlight.
We all asked her why couldn’t she buy online? She goes “oh I have to see it in person to see if I like it...”
FFS, this is part of the problem. It’s a mask, and material will work. STAY AT HOME! pic.twitter.com/ciduhWWNqn

— Kath (@Kathblue) July 19, 2020

Another user on Facebook said they had to join the “panic buying queue” outside a Chemist Warehouse where they bought a box of 50 disposable masks for $44 – pointing out an eerie detail on the item.

“Look where they’re made?” the user wrote, showing a label on the side that read the masks were manufactured in Wuhan, China – where the first coronavirus outbreak occurred.

Some have noticed an eerie detail in the boxes of face masks people are lining up for. Picture: Facebook

Another person on Twitter spotted the same detail on the Softmed brand face mask.

However advice around the new rule is confusing.

Premier Andrews said earlier today it “can be a scarf, it can be a homemade mask”, which is in contradiction to the previous advice cloth masks needed a minimum of 2-3 layers to be most effective.

The simplest DIY mask yet - all you is a sock and a scissors pic.twitter.com/xYU0ZjHsSV

— donal scannell (@donalscannell) May 11, 2020

Epidemiologist Dr Abrar Ahmad Chughtai from the University of New South Wales said there were notable details to look for when purchasing or making a cloth face mask to ensure it works.

“Use two or three layers of fabric. Choose fabric with a high thread count – so a tighter weave, for instance, from a good quality sheet is generally better than a fabric (mask) with a looser weave that you can clearly see light through,” he wrote in a blog post Monday.

“Fabrics made with more than one type of thread, for instance cotton – silk, cotton – chiffon, or cotton – flannel, may be good choices because they provide better filtration and are more comfortable to wear.”

On Thursday, cloth masks were found to be the “best weapon” when fighting the spread of coronavirus by two separate studies in the US, after surgical masks had previously been thought to be more effective.

Daniel Andrews said people could use a scarf as a facial covering once the new rule comes into play. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACKS MASK ADVICE

The Federal Government has thrown its support behind the mask announcement.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said today Victoria is at the point where masks are now “necessary” in the state and added that federal officials “fully and completely support”.
“It is necessary, and we are sorry that it has reached this point for all those who were affected. But this is about saving lives and protecting lives.”
He said face masks would not be mandatory across the country and that “at this stage, the medical expert panel hasn’t identified a level such as that in other states and territories”.
Mr Andrews said an order of at least 2.5 million masks was on its way to Melbourne, with the “first significant batch” expected to arrive this week.

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