People who wanted to buy a mask to protect themselves from coronavirus in Van have literally assaulted pharmacies. However, they found a bitter surprise as mask were sold at a very high price. 

Masks are also offered at the black market for high prices. What people don't understand is that in fact the masks only protect those already infected from transmitting the virus to sane people. The masks in fact do not protect sane people from contracting the virus. Panic, however, won over and everyone is trying to get his or her mask.

Van is at the border with Iran, one of the countries most affected by the coronavirus and one with the highest number of deaths. 

People in Van run to pharmacies in search of masks and hygiene and disinfection products but were shocked by the high price of these products. Masks were previously sold for 5 Turkish Lira but now are sold for up to 150 TL. Hand cleaning gel was sold for 10 TL and it is now sold for 40 TL.

People are looking to buy masks from the black market as pharmacies have already run out of stock. Of course there are those who saw businness in the coronavirus outrbreak and are now selling masks on the street.

The reason why the prices are so high is that mask manufacturers no longer deliver masks and disinfectant gels to the main warehouses. Masks that pharmacists bought from two main warehouses in Van are not currently available in warehouses. These products are now only available from the black market or abroad through intermediaries.

Providing information on the subject, President of the Chamber of Pharmacists, Fikret Baransel, said that the problem with masks and disinfectant gels was caused by the supply-demand balance which has completely been changed.

Baransel said: "Our pharmacies would sell 3 or 5 masks on normal days. Our pharmacies work with 45 days of stock. But now things have changed and the demand has increased incredibly, thus causing prices to go up and a shortage of product."