Medical suppliers in Vernon are struggling to keep masks and sanitation products on the shelves amid growing coronavirus concerns.

Several stores said masks were sold out in February and suppliers are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Surge Med害羞草研究所檚 customer service administrator Tracy Dufresne said customers in Vernon are signing up for a waitlist for when the store eventually replenishes its supply.

Customer service representative Britni Horncastle, with Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Southward Medical Supply, said their store has been sold out of masks and hand sanitizer for nearly one month.

害羞草研究所淭here is so much fearmongering going on in the news,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所�(Coronavirus) can be a scary thing, but so is the regular flu.害羞草研究所�

Horncastle said most of her clientele seeking masks are individuals with a pre-existing condition or those about to embark on travels.

害羞草研究所�(Masks) are better than nothing,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ut it害羞草研究所檚 like any cold, you can get it anywhere.害羞草研究所�

Dufresne echoed the sentiments and said Surge Med hasn害羞草研究所檛 seen the demand for masks and hand sanitizers this high before.

害羞草研究所淲hen H1N1 was happening, there was a bit of a kerfuffle,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ut this one is a little bigger. You害羞草研究所檙e hearing more about it and reading more about it.害羞草研究所�

There are 害羞草研究所渘o masks to be had害羞草研究所� at Nightingale Medical Supplies either, customer service representative Myra Bird said Friday, March 6.

害羞草研究所淥ur suppliers are out,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e trying to stock up because we need them in our area 害羞草研究所� masks have been out for a long time.害羞草研究所�

Bird said she害羞草研究所檚 never seen anything like this before.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an epidemic, let me tell you,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淢asks have been a big issue right from the get-go as soon as this all broke out.害羞草研究所�

She said she believes the fear is stemming from the fact there is no known vaccination for the novel coronavirus, which is now referred to as COVID-19.

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害羞草研究所淥ur nurses don害羞草研究所檛 seem to be so concerned about the virus,害羞草研究所� Bird said. 害羞草研究所淪ome nurses feel it害羞草研究所檚 been blown way out of proportion.害羞草研究所�

Globally, COVID-19 has killed 3.4 per cent of reported patients as of March 3, according to the .

The provincial government announced March 6 that it is activating a pandemic plan to deal with novel coronavirus.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is ready to use emergency powers to protect the population, health workers and the health system害羞草研究所檚 capacity to help patients with other problems.

Dix says the B.C. government is also preparing for how it will function if large numbers of public employees get sick.

The plan is to be ready to operate under an outbreak that lasts up to four months.

Premier John Horgan said a committee of deputy ministers will oversee B.C.害羞草研究所檚 COVID-19 response, and the province now has four labs that can test for the virus.

There are 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada with 21 cases in British Columbia 害羞草研究所� one of which is believed to have been contracted through community contact.

To protect patrons and employees alike, coffee giants Starbucks and Tim Hortons have temporarily stopped accepting reusable cups amid the growing COVID-19 concerns. Schools in the North Okanagan have also postponed spring break travel plans to Europe to protect its students.

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Caitlin.clow@vernonmorningstar.com
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