Coronavirus | India caps prices of sanitisers, surgical masks

With fears of contracting the virus escalating since March, stores across India saw a massive demand and consequently a shortage of stocks in hand sanitisers and masks.

A man wearing a face mask walks past a mural of Mahatma Gandhi in a market area in New Delhi on March 17, 2020.

Retail prices of hand sanitisers have been capped at ₹100 for a 200 ml bottle, a notification by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said on Friday. The prices of surgical masks (3 ply) and non-woven masks also were capped at ₹10 and ₹8 respectively. The notification would remain in force until the June 30.

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Masks and hand sanitisers were declared as essential commodities due to shortage in the wake of the covid19 outbreak .

That order didn't specify an upper limit to the prices.

With fears of contracting the virus escalating since March, stores across India saw a massive demand and consequently a shortage of stocks in hand sanitisers and masks.