Coronavirus: average Hongkonger’s stock of masks growing, survey says, though many still struggle to source
- Over 65 per cent of city residents surveyed say they have enough masks for a month or more, though NGO says need still great for low-income families
- The number of masks owned by Hongkongers has inched up week by week over the course of three polls
A new survey of Hongkongers suggests the city’s mask shortage could be easing up – at least a bit – though there are still residents struggling to source the protective gear.
The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute on Tuesday said the average resident had a reserve of masks that could last for 25 days – up from 22.9 days a week ago and just 17 days a week before that.
The February 3 to 17 poll of 21,257 Hong Kong residents, however, found that 7.9 per cent of those surveyed had only enough for a week or less.
Despite the long queues for masks still spotted around the city, 35 per cent of interviewees said their face mask reserves could last for a month, while 32 per cent said they had enough for even longer.
About 25 per cent of respondents said they had adequate masks for either two or three weeks, while 4.4 per cent said they could hang on for just one.