US Surgeon General Urges Public to ‘Stop Buying Masks’ Amid Shortages

US Surgeon General Urges Public to ‘Stop Buying Masks’ Amid Shortages
Passengers wear masks to protect against the spread of the Coronavirus as they arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport, California, on Jan. 22, 2020. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
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The surgeon general of the United States has urged the public to “stop buying masks,” warning that it could lead to a shortage for healthcare workers and effectively put them and communities at risk.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams made his plea in several Twitter posts on Saturday as Americans rush to purchase disposable face masks and other protective equipment. The demand for masks is leading to shortages that have caused price surges on online shopping platforms Amazon and eBay.