By Sampada A. Khatiwada/ Keshab Raj Poudel

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: After the outbreak of novel coronavirus in China, consumption of masks in Nepali markets has significantly increased, leading to their acute shortage.
Majority of denizens in the nation are seen wearing masks due to the fear of being affected by the novel epidemic.
The doctors, however, suggest that a regular face mask would not prevent coronavirus infection. Sudan Dhakal, a doctor and neurosurgeon, said, “The regular disposable masks are not really effective to avoid coronavirus.” Face masks can be protective for other diseases, which one acquires via respiratory route.
Dr. Dhakal said that even if one is using regular masks to be safe from coronavirus, it would only lead to psychological satisfaction of the person rather than actual protection.
Even the United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t recommend face mask to avoid coronavirus infection, he said.

Masks, however, are a must if one is in direct contact with coronavirus infected people.
“Therefore, health care professionals who are at greater risks of facing coronavirus patients are required to wear masks,” Dhakal said. “This stage of the epidemic doesn’t require general population of Nepal to wear masks.”
He added that wearing masks, especially within the valley was important for everyone to remain unaffected by ordinary viral infections.
As the epidemic outbreak has led to a shortfall of masks in the Nepali market, the mask producers asserted that they could produce as many masks the society demands, if the government gave a direction to them.
Currently, about two dozen masks producing industries associated with the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) are in operation in Nepal.
“These industries have been producing masks proportionate to the market demand,” Umesh Prasad Singh, chairman of FNCSI said.
“We are ready to produce enough masks, if the government directs us to do so,” he said.
Singh said that even though Nepal was self-reliant in masks, the government had not stopped importing masks from foreign countries.
The government overlooking on home products has put the mask industries at risk of closure.
Considering the risk of the epidemic, the government has halted export of masks from Nepal.
The cottage and small industries claim that they are able to produce quality mask of all kinds. We have only been overshadowed by imported masks, they said.
“As Nepal is in utmost risk of being affected by novel coronavirus, supply of masks could be essential any time,” said Singh.
He said, “The Nepali market is observing shortage of masks because the government never thought that in-house production of masks is essential during epidemic outbreaks.”
Singh said that the small industries had been producing all kinds of masks, with cost ranging from Rs. 20 to Rs. 1,000.
“The import of Chinese masks had outshined us in the market even though we have been producing masks since a long time,” said Singh. “Although the mask industries are in the verge of being closed, we can produce masks required all over Nepal in two days if the government directs us.”
Binod Manandhar, General Secretary, Chemical and Medical Suppliers Association of Nepal, said that the import of masks had stopped form February 1. Availability of N-95 masks has now been rare in Nepali market after India stopped exporting masks to Nepal, Manandhar said.
“Masks are brought to Nepal from China, Malaysia, Turkey and India, through India,” Manandhar said. “The market demand of masks has increased after all the masks coming to Nepal are being accumulated in India.”