A couple wearing protective masks looks at a phone next to the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, February 25, 2020. REUTERS / Remo Casilli
MILAN (Reuters) – Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the surge in online prices for sanitary masks and disinfectant gels following the coronavirus epidemic in northern Italy, two senior magistrates said on Tuesday.
Italy has experienced the largest epidemic of the disease in Europe, with more than 260 cases and seven deaths reported, most in the prosperous north of the country.
“We have decided to launch an investigation after the media reported the senseless prices of these products (masks and gels) on online sales sites in the past two days,” the deputy chief prosecutor told Reuters from Milan, Tiziana Siciliano.
As the disease has spread, many pharmacists say they no longer have sanitary masks and hand sanitizers, and many people go to online sites where prices have gone up.
“The price of masks online has gone from one cent to 10 euros each and a liter bottle of disinfectant that went on sale last week at 7 euros was up to 39 euros yesterday,” said Siciliano.
Sales of hand sanitizing gels in Italy reached 900,000 packs in the first six weeks of 2020, a ninefold increase from the previous year and are expected to reach 1 million in late February, the institute said on Tuesday. Nielsen research.
“Sales of hygienic hand gels went through the roof. The shelves of major retailers (hypermarkets, supermarkets, cash and carry, specialty pharmacists and discounters) have been cleaned, ”said Nielsen.
As the emergency spreads, police have also warned that criminals posing as health inspectors have used false identity documents to try to gain access to people’s homes to steal money or d other valuables.
($ 1 = 0.9227 euros)
Report by Emilio Parodi; edited by James Mackenzie and Mark Heinrich