PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - With all the news about the Coronavirus and an early flu season, Pittsburghers are turning to surgical masks to help fight the spread of germs.
In fact many pharmacies report they are out.
Pharmacist Jeff Wilson at Wilson's Pharmacy in Lawrenceville says it’s a first for his store.
“It used to be unusual to see anybody in this country walking around with a surgical mask on but it’s not all that uncommon anymore, especially in airports and so on,” said Wilson.
In addition to Wilson's, Schiller’s Apothecary in Shadyside, along with multiple Rite-Aid locations are out of the masks.
A check for fresh air masks on Amazon shows the most popular models currently not available.
A local pharmacist says their mask suppliers are low.
Experts say they are called N-95 masks, they help prevent 95 percent of particles from reaching your face.
If it is not an N-95 mask, it’s probably too flimsy to help and a cloth mask may actually hold onto germs.
The best advice, wash your hands frequently and get a flu shot.
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