by Michael Snyder, End Of The American Dream:

I can’t remember ever seeing this much global panic about a virus.  The bird flu outbreak that we witnessed a number of years ago definitely shook people up, and the ebola scare received a lot of attention for a short period of time, but this coronavirus pandemic is already on an entirely different level.  Despite the fact that there is an impeachment trial happening in Washington right now, this pandemic has dominated headlines day after day, and many experts are warning that what we have seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.  It appears that this virus spreads very, very easily from person to person, and it is nothing like getting the cold or the flu.  One leaked video from a hospital in Wuhan, China actually shows a victim “shaking uncontrollably” and “writhing all over”…

A helpless coronavirus victim is seen shaking uncontrollably on a hospital bed in China as the death toll in the county rises to 56.

The disturbing clip, which was uploaded on to Twitter, shows a woman holding the head of the patient as he or she appears to be having a fit under a blanket.

Others surrounding the trolley are wearing protective masks as the victim is seen writhing all over.

Needless to say, news such as this is motivating people to take action.

In particular, people all over the world have been feverishly buying N95 masks, and this is starting to cause serious shortages.  In Hong Kong, N95 masks are totally sold out, and according to CNN the next batch will not be arriving until February…

Hong Kong is facing a serious shortage of face masks after fears over the Wuhan coronavirus sparked a surge in demand.

Horace Lau, vice president of Hong Kong’s General Chamber of Pharmacies, told CNN the next batch of face masks was not expected to arrive in the city until February.

Here in the United States, Internet searches for N95 masks have suddenly gone through the roof.  The following comes from Zero Hedge…

Search trends for “N95 mask” started to pick up around January 13, and have soared since January 20, as the spread of coronavirus has become uncontrollable across the world.

Americans in nearly every state are googling where to buy N95 masks, including search-related queries for “n95 mask walmart” and “n95 mask home depot.”

With three confirmed cases in California, Washington state, and Illinois, along with dozens of suspected cases, masks have been selling out across the country since Thursday.

I decided to look into this myself, and so I went to Amazon and I did a search for “N95 masks” and the top four results were all currently unavailable…

–Dräger X-plore 1350 N95 Particulate Respirator, 20 Pack, Size XS, NIOSH-Certified, Disposable Dust Mask, Adjustable Head Harness, Low Breathing Resistance (Amazon Affiliate Link): Currently Unavailable

–DERPROF Particulate Respirator Dust Mask N95 – Hepa N95 Respirator Mask with Valve Particle Mask for Drywall Sanding Painting Cleaning Chemical Breathing Mask Air (20 Pack) (Amazon Affiliate Link): Currently Unavailable

–For IKJK N95 N99 Pollution Masks – 12 PCS PM2.5 Activated Carbon Filter Mouth Masks 5 Layer Protective Filter Mask Filter Replacement (Amazon Affiliate Link): Currently Unavailable

–3M 8511 Respirator, N95, Cool Flow Valve (10-Pack) (Amazon Affiliate Link): “In stock on March 1, 2020”

As I write this article, there are still some N95 masks available on Amazon and elsewhere, but in many instances the prices have really been jacked up.

Unfortunately, these masks only provide limited protection against this virus.  The following comes from NPR…

According to the CDC, the kind of flimsy masks that people often buy in pharmacies may not tightly fit the face, so the wearer can still breathe in air — and infected droplets.

Stanley Perlman, a professor at the University of Iowa who studies coronaviruses, agrees that the mask won’t necessarily prevent infection. But they do have some value, he says: Wearing a mask may stop an individual from directly touching their mouth and nose, which is a common way that viruses and germs enter the body. Masks provide some protection this way, he adds. “But what we teach is that they’re not very good.”

So please don’t think that wearing a mask out in public will give you 100 percent protection.

But at least it is better than nothing.

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