Production of Counterfeit Medical Face Masks Spikes Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many in the fashion community have rallied to provide relief assistance. Fashion fixtures like LVMH and Christian Siriano have repurposed their production facilities to manufacture supplies as hospitals run low on basics. Given the circumstances, brands giving back is a tiny but game-changing silver lining. But not all in the manufacturing industry are abiding by guidelines, with reports indicating that some counterfeit manufacturers have been producing fake medical face masks in the wake of the pandemic.
As COVID-19 spreads across the world, the demand for medical masks has seen an unprecedented spike and consequent shortage. Though the CDC is reportedly reconsidering guidelines for general public use of face masks, WHO guidelines currently recommend only people infected or showing symptoms should wear one (or healthy individual caring for people with a suspected infection).
It should be noted that mask types range widely in effectiveness, with fabric masks offering much less protection than surgical masks, like the N95. According to a report published on March 25 by the Independent, this spike in demand has been met with a spike in supply from counterfeiters, who are manufacturing masks they tout as medical-grade, copying the branding of companies like 3M, which produces N95 masks.
In its report, the outlet found that “hundreds of thousands of counterfeit medical face masks” have found their way into the market during the COVID-19 crisis. These masks, the report says, are “often made in unsterile sweatshops previously used to make phony handbags or designer jeans.”
There are regulations in place to certify the safety of surgical face masks, which can vary by country; since these masks are unregulated, they likely lack the specifications needed to adequately prevent possible infections, putting health care workers and others in danger, according to the report. A medical industry executive told the Independent that these masks are probably "better than nothing," but they may offer a false sense of security for those who think they're getting medical-grade protection.
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