Exported To China And Priced At Expensive, Masks In Indonesia Are Rare

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JAKARTA - The corona virus which has spread and caused a new stir in mainland China has claimed hundreds of lives. The virus that attacks the respiratory tract also makes masks in the Bamboo Curtain country sell well.

The reason is that masks are considered as a way to reduce the rate of spread of the virus and its impacts. Now, China will import masks from various countries including Indonesia.

"The demand for these masks is extraordinary. Because now for the next 3 months these masks have been absorbed by China," Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, February 3.

Even though Airlangga saw an opportunity from importing these masks, he asked mask manufacturers to pay attention to the availability of goods in Indonesia because he was worried that we would end up running out of masks.

"Countries like ours must also prepare quota (masks) for the country, not to absorb all of them and not get them domestically," he said.

It's just that Airlangga's request seems too late. Because, since news of the spread of the corona virus has been rife, masks are like a rare item that is difficult to find. This was agreed by the Secretary General of the Pramuka Market Traders Association, Yoyon.

According to him, at the Pramuka Market, East Jakarta, the presence of masks is starting to run low because sales are rarely delivering masks, especially those of the N95 type.

"Sales do not get them, they supply them to the Pramuka Market. So between shops are looking for them. Officially, it can be said that there is no longer (supply)," Yoyon told reporters when contacted in Jakarta, Monday, February 3.

He also explained that a number of shops no longer sell masks with the N95 type. Even if someone sells it, the price is drastically more expensive than the previous price.

If before the spread of the corona virus masks were sold for IDR 200 thousand per box with the contents of 20 pieces, now, according to Yoyon, one box of N95 masks can be sold for up to IDR 1.3 million.

Even though the price has increased because it is scarce, he said, there are still quite a lot of people who are looking for these masks, especially Chinese citizens who live in Indonesia and want to provide assistance to their families in the Panda Country by sending masks from Indonesia.

Reflecting on this scarcity, Yoyon then reminded the government to pay attention to the availability of masks in Indonesia. He said there was no problem if the government wanted to provide assistance, including exporting masks to China.

It's just that, he asked, when the government is keen to provide assistance to other countries, not to let the price of masks in their own country be even more expensive, even if the goods are scarce.

"What a pity we are, our outside (countries) are providing assistance like that while here the price goes up beyond reason because of the scarcity of masks itself," said Yoyon.

It is known, using a mask has recently been considered a solution to prevent transmission of the corona virus. There are two types of masks that are usually used to prevent this virus, first N95 masks and surgical masks.

The N95 mask is a type of mask that can block large and small particles that contain viruses. This mask is thought to be able to filter 95 percent of the particles in the air.

The second is a surgical mask or surgical mask that is mostly used by medical personnel when treating their patients. These disposable masks are usually easy to find and cheaper than N95 masks.

However, between the two masks, it is recommended that the N95 type mask be used to prevent the corona virus. The reason is, this mask is more effective at filtering various particles in the air and is considered tighter than surgical masks which still have gaps in the cheeks.