Because Scuba Masks Are No Longer Effective, Don't Try To Hoard Medical Masks

JAKARTA - The National Police will oversee the distribution of medical masks in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This supervision aims to prevent the accumulation of masks.

Karo Penmas of the National Police's Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Awi Setiyono, emphasized that the National Police not only supervises the distribution of masks but will take action against the perpetrators of hoarding.

"Yes, if there is a hoarding of masks with an element of wanting to make big profits in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, of course it will be dealt with according to the regulations," Awi told VOI, Wednesday, September 16.

In fact, monitoring of the distribution of masks has been carried out since the beginning of the pandemic period. At that time, the National Police formed a task force (task force) for the Ops Aman Nusa II 2020. In addition, Polri was also involved in the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (PCPEN).

"Since March 2020 until now the National Police is still supervising this matter. Polri is also involved in the PCPEN Committee of the Deputy Chief of Police as Deputy Chair II and Dirtipikor at the Police Headquarters as the head of the National Economic Recovery Task Force for the National Economy," said Awi.

If later under surveillance it is found that a person has hoarded medical masks, then the Police will not hesitate to take action against him with criminal law. In fact, the perpetrator will be charged with multiple articles.

The perpetrator of hoarding can be accused by layered articles, including Articles 106 and 107 of Law Number 7 of 2014 concerning Trade. The threat is a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and / or a fine of IDR 50 billion.

Then, Articles 196 and 197 of Law Number 36 of 2009 concerning Health. The threat is a maximum of 15 years in prison and / or a fine of IDR 1.5 billion.

Then, Article 65 of Law Number 20 of 2014 concerning Standardization, Assessment and Conformity. The maximum threat is 5 years in prison and / or a fine of IDR 35 billion.

And, Articles 8 and 62 of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection. The maximum threat of 5 years in prison and / or a fine of IDR 2 billion.

The potential for stockpiling emerged after the Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force Wiku Adisasmito said that the scuba masks that are widely sold in the market are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by means of droplets.

It is feared that people will use it as an opportunity to reap big profits. So that hoarding medical masks until the price soars.

"This scuba and buff mask is a mask with only one layer and is too thin. So that the possibility to penetrate and not be able to filter is bigger," Wiku said in an online press conference broadcast on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday, September 15.

In addition, these two types of masks are usually easy to pull down under the chin, thereby eliminating the function of their use.

Instead of using buffs or scuba masks, people can use surgical masks, especially when they are sick. Meanwhile, healthy people can use cloth masks.

However, it must be remembered that when choosing a cloth mask, it is made of cotton and three layers. "This is important because the ability to filter or filter virus particles will be better with a larger number of layers. In this case 3 layers are made of cotton," he said.