Thrissur: The government has ordered medical stores not to sell N95 masks, as they are meant only for health workers.
Health department and district collectors have been tasked to see to it.
The government directed care-givers interacting with the quarantined, and patients to use the mask.
However, people out of fear began buying up the mask, leading to a shortage online.
The one-time use masks, previously costing Rs 125, are now sold at Rs 350 apiece.
Given this, care-givers might not get masks when they are in need of them.
People do not require this mask, say health officials.
Kerala Medical Service Corporation Manager, Dileep Kumar said there was no shortage for N95 masks. Measures are being taken to ready the stock, he said.
N95 mask offers 95.95 percentage of protection from germs.