It's mask mayhem. Since the mandatory mask order from the Victorian Government for residents in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, masks have been flying off the shelves.
Residents under stage three lockdown in Victoria must comply with the compulsory mask order by Wednesday 11.59 pm, or risk a $200 fine.
Victorians have been rushing to grab their masks in time. Priceline’s pharmacies in Melbourne have seen a 30-fold increase in purchases since last week. The pharmacy chain’s mask prices range from $51.99 for 10, to as high as $249 for a 50-pack.
"The retail price represents the quality, cost price and number of units in each pack," a spokesperson told 9 News.
"Additionally, many stores have sourced their own products for their communities, in a time where securing inventory has been difficult.”
In view of previous panic buying, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews warned retailers that now is “no time to be profiting from the pain of others.”
And, they’re at pains to point out, there’ll be plenty of stocks to go around.
"We have got more than two million multi-use masks, like the ones that I was wearing when I came in and so many people in the room [Sunday] are wearing,” he said.
The orders will arrive sometime this week but Andrews also made clear to residents in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire that something as simple as a handkerchief, scarf, or bandana would suffice.
Stores have restricted the number of masks per customer across Victoria. Bunnings have capped masks at 50 per person, Woolworths is at one pack and Aldi have restricted customers to two packs.
And Spotlight has advised that sewing machines and fabric, which are being used to create home-made masks, are being "replenished regularly".
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian hasn't called for mandatory masks in her state yet, but has urged the public to wear them where social distancing is not possible.
'I spent the entire weekend sewing and cutting and fielding emails from people begging for face masks'
Other businesses and individuals have jumped into the mask-making biz, given these 'unprecedented times'. Dully Locals, a collective of local businesses including bars and food stores in Sydney's inner-west, have been offering services to their community via social media. But they've had such a demand for their custom made masks, they have had to pause orders for the time being while they tend to their backlog.
Chrissy Flanagan is the co-founder of Dully Locals. She told The Feed she's been making masks since March but has only started receiving mass orders in the last few days.
"I have had extremely limited interest until four or five days ago," she said.
She attributes the surge to the recent orders in Melbourne. Initially, the masks Chrissy was making were for her local community but interest has travelled beyond her little suburb.
Over the past weekend alone she received 60 orders of masks with customers ranging from Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
"It's a lot from basically none a week ago," she said, "So I spent the entire weekend sewing and cutting and fielding emails from people begging for face masks."
The requests from masks have turned from customers gently asking when they will be available to panicking that they need their order filled immediately.
Chrissy says it's all become "kind of hysterical" to experience.
"It is a bit nerve-wracking because it's leading to some real intensity of requests where people are saying, like, I can't find them anywhere else.
"I have a job and other businesses as well. So it's not like I can't sit at home and sew masks all day and all night."
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
