STO: Maldives is not running out of surgical masks

A group of tourists are pictured at an airport in the Maldives. Chinese ambassador to the Maldives announced on January 31, 2020 that charter flights to take back Chinese tourists will arrive in the Maldives following the outbreak of the Coronavirus. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)

State Trading Organization (STO) has refuted rumors that the Maldives was running low on surgical masks.

STO media official Abdulla Mohamed assured to "Sun" that the company is not running low on face masks and that the price remained at MVR 2 per mask.

"Masks are being sold at MVR 2. A limit was introduced not because we are running low on stock. It is because some people might buy masks now and sell at a higher price later on if we did not place a limit on masks. Masks are being sold three per person." said Abdulla Mohamed.

STO will also have no difficulties in bringing in masks if needed.

The demand for masks have in the country has risen sporadically after a suspected case of the Coronavirus was identified in the Maldives.

By Ahmedulla Abdul Hadi

Journalist