Chinese citizens and even companies are reportedly buying medical masks in Minsk and sending them from Belarus to China.
“They are sweeping the masks off the pharmacy’s shelves. They must be set to send [them] home,” Minsk-based pharmacist Katsyaryna Kusko said on Instagram.
According to her, the Chinese are buying up wholesale; they are paying hundreds and thousands of Belarusian rubles and taking boxes full of masks away.
“Unfortunately, there is nothing left at the warehouses. We may face a severe shortage very soon,” the woman claims.
When reached by Belsat, Spanevromed, a Belarusian producer of face masks, has commented on the situation.
“All the products that were previously ordered have been collected from the warehouses. The production process is underway; we are shipping [the products],” the company’s representative stresses.
According to the source, it is unlikely that face masks will be in short supply in Belarus.
“The wholesalers do not have [masks] because some went to China as part of the humanitarian supply. Naturally, certain Chinese companies directly purchased [them] from wholesalers and then took the bought items out of the country. I think there will be no rush on the Belarusian market. Let’s wait a week or two, and the producers will meet the domestic needs,” said the company,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yuliya Baradun, Spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, told news agency Interfax that there was no increased demand for medical masks in Belarusian pharmacies.
