The district administration in Shimla has found a unique way to tackle the rising cost of face masks due to increasing demand and shortage of supply. The administration got trained inmates in the Kanda jail to prepare 5,000 two-layered masks using hospital-grade fabric.
The authorities said the step was taken following reports of a rise in the prices of masks at chemists and other retail shops. The administration said the masks will be sold at no-loss-no-profit basis at the special DC office counter through district red cross.
The mask is priced at Rs 20 and a single person will be allowed to buy no more than 4 pieces.
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Additionally, the traffic policemen will be offered these masks free of cost, an official said.
Besides mask, it had come to light that many chemists were selling sanitizers at an inflated price following which they were inspected and directed to display maximum retail price (MRP).
Meanwhile, the number of deaths due to the new coronavirus in the US has reached 105, with the outbreak spreading to all 50 states, even as President Donald Trump mounted a warlike effort to contain the situation, including an economic stimulus package of $1 trillion.
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India rose to over 140, the India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is going to operationalize two rapid testing laboratories (high throughput system) and 49 additional testing centres by the end of this week.
