Coronavirus: mask ‘trend’ is a thing for Instagram influencers and fashion lovers as shortages hit Asia

As the struggle to find face masks hits the headlines in Asia, social media influencers are posting selfies wearing masks

Masks are being made to reflect political agendas too, including masks bearing the Taiwanese national flag

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Customers buy face masks in Tokyo's Akihabara area on January 27. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP

Published: 3:00pm, 14 Feb 2020Updated: 3:10pm, 14 Feb 2020

In the prosperous capitals of Asia, money could buy anything – until a mysterious coronavirus hit, striking fear in rich and poor alike.

Now, surgical masks are nearly impossible to find on shelves from Taipei to Hong Kong to Manila, prompting a panic reminiscent of wartime scarcity, with long queues and reports of hoarding, price gouging and fake products.

People have turned to social media to share creative solutions. How about a mask made of a maxi pad? Half an orange? A water bottle? Bad advice abounds. Note to self: steaming masks to disinfect them does not work.

Some governments have organised mask lotteries. Others are rationing masks. Political leaders tour mask factories, seeking to reassure citizens that manufacturing is being ramped up.

A woman in traditional Korean hanbok dress wears a face mask as she visits Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP

At their simplest, the masks are a thin, pleated layer of gauze – a few millimetres of protection from the world. Other versions, like the N95 used by health care workers, contain advanced carbon filters. Most people are just glad to have a mask in standard white, blue, green or black, but plaid, camouflage, heart and cartoon animal versions are also seen on the streets.