The largest supermarket chain in Singapore, NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice), said it is working to secure new supplies of face masks in view of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
In a media advisory on Facebook, Fairprice expressed that it shares Singaporeans' concerns over the Wuhan coronavirus situation in the country that resulted in a surge in demand for face masks.
"From the onset of the situation, FairPrice has proactively stocked its shelves with face masks to meet customer demand," the company said. The co-operative had sourced widely, including from government stockpile, to ensure face masks were available.
With the Singapore government announcing on Thursday, January 30, that they will be distributing face masks to each household, retailers will no longer be able to draw from the government stockpile.
"FairPrice will support the Government’s new measures and will continue to secure new supplies of face masks for national deployment," the company said.
It also reminded the public that there is generally no need to wear a mask if one is not ill, and urged customers not to hoard face masks as doing so will deprive others who need them.