If this news article is accurate, masks will not be scarce for much longer. That article claims that China is now producing masks at 116M/day, a 12x increase compared to the start of February (5 weeks ago), and that they will export them. This is in addition to mask production in other countries.
I am not sure whether, when combined with production in other countries, this satisfies the entire world demand. But masks aren’t complicated objects and aren’t made of scarce materials, and this is pretty strong evidence that production can be scaled up even further, if necessary.
In a few weeks, a number of public figures may find themselves doing an awkward about-face from “masks don’t work and no one should wear them” to “masks do work and they are mandatory”.
(If you are able to buy masks for less than $1/each through ordinary channels, it means the shortage has abated, and you can buy them without worrying about depriving health care workers of those supplies, but you shouldn’t stock up on more than you need in the short term until the price has been low for at least a few weeks.)
In a few weeks, a number of public figures may find themselves doing an awkward about-face from “masks don’t work and no one should wear them” to “masks do work and they are mandatory”.
They’d likely ship them out to everyone as fast as they can, this is their chance to regain political points after this disaster. They already helped out Italy by donating medical supplies and enough people on the social medias are starting to regard them with a better opinion than other European countries, so as a political move is hugely effective.
I would think that would be the smart thing and the right thing. I suspect it also the thing they will do.
That said, they have also already publicly stated (reported a few days back) they will offer that type of support “for those participating in their belt and road” initiative and I didn’t notice (but did not read closely) if they mentioned nonparticipating countries and where they would stand.
If this news article is accurate, masks will not be scarce for much longer. That article claims that China is now producing masks at 116M/day, a 12x increase compared to the start of February (5 weeks ago), and that they will export them. This is in addition to mask production in other countries.
I am not sure whether, when combined with production in other countries, this satisfies the entire world demand. But masks aren’t complicated objects and aren’t made of scarce materials, and this is pretty strong evidence that production can be scaled up even further, if necessary.
In a few weeks, a number of public figures may find themselves doing an awkward about-face from “masks don’t work and no one should wear them” to “masks do work and they are mandatory”.
(If you are able to buy masks for less than $1/each through ordinary channels, it means the shortage has abated, and you can buy them without worrying about depriving health care workers of those supplies, but you shouldn’t stock up on more than you need in the short term until the price has been low for at least a few weeks.)
I want to record and reward how this prediction seems to be correct: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/02/coronavirus-facemasks-policyreversal/
I wonder if China will direct the masks to politically friendly countries, or let the free marker decide.
They’d likely ship them out to everyone as fast as they can, this is their chance to regain political points after this disaster. They already helped out Italy by donating medical supplies and enough people on the social medias are starting to regard them with a better opinion than other European countries, so as a political move is hugely effective.
I would think that would be the smart thing and the right thing. I suspect it also the thing they will do.
That said, they have also already publicly stated (reported a few days back) they will offer that type of support “for those participating in their belt and road” initiative and I didn’t notice (but did not read closely) if they mentioned nonparticipating countries and where they would stand.
Might be more about prioritization in the line.