MELAKA: Pharmacies are receiving many enquiries on the availability of oxygen tanks and antiviral medication following a new record of 6,075 Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.
Viva Care Pharmacy owner Desmond Yap said he had been receiving a slew of calls from locals asking about the concentrators and cylinders.
“People are worried the stock will run out and are finding out if there is an adequate supply as an early precaution, ” he said.
Yap said the demand for Vitamin C and good quality face masks had also skyrocketed in the past week.
“Due to this, we have piled up boxes of face masks in all three outlets like the ‘Great Wall of China’ while people were also rushing to buy health supplements, ” he said.
Yap said disinfectant sprays and hand sanitisers were also flying off the shelves over the past few days.
Another pharmacist, requesting anonymity, said some locals have started storing oxygen tanks at home in anticipation of rising cases.
“The panic-buying shows the locals are worried about an
exponential rise in cases, although the supply of oxygen cylinders
is still sufficient in the state, ” he said, adding that disinfectant hand gel and bars of soap were also in high demand.
Separately, Melaka opened its own Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre for low-risk cases.
The centre, located at the Melaka International Trade Centre, could accommodate between 1,000 and 2,000 beds.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the decision to open the centre was made following the overcrowding at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang.
