Face mask prices are skyrocketing on Amazon. Do they protect you from coronavirus?

It can be an unsettling sight; images upon images of people in face masks waiting at airports or strolling down the street.

As coronavirus spreads, face masks are becoming more ubiquitous and sellers are taking note — prices are skyrocketing.

But experts say some of these masks won’t help.

So which — if any — can protect you? And what are retailers doing to curb rising prices?

Here’s what you need to know about price gouging, which masks work and which ones don’t.

Will face masks protect you from COVID-19?

The short answer: it depends. Not all face masks are created equally.

Experts say your typical disposable surgical mask, often green or blue, won’t do much to prevent you from catching the virus, according to NPR.

Infectious disease researcher Raina MacIntyre told the outlet these surgical masks could protect you from “visible splash or spray of fluid or large droplets” but fit too loosely to keep germs and small airborne particles from sneaking in around the edges.

These masks can, however, help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you’ve already been infected, according to EuroNews.

For health care professionals, the Centers for Disease Control recommends a mask called an N95 respirator, which fits more closely to the face and removes particles from the air as the wearer breathes through the mask.

The respirators filter out 95% of small particles, including bacteria and viruses, the CDC says.

Can I purchase an N95 respirator if I’m not a health care professional?

Absolutely.

They’re typically available on Amazon or at home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, but the CDC says they’re not necessary for public use.

The person-to-person spread of viruses such as COVID-19 usually happens within six feet, according to the CDC.

Instead, it recommends everyday preventative actions including washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and avoiding touching your eyes and nose.

How much have prices spiked?

At the end of January, this 100-count pack of disposable three-layer masks — which, if you’ll remember, won’t do much good — was priced at $4.21 on Amazon, according to Keepa, which tracks price changes on the website.

As of Thursday, the set of masks has nearly quintupled in price, selling for $19.99.

This set of 10 N95 respirators was $18.20 in mid-January. It’s currently sold out after spiking to $199.99 on Wednesday, according to Keepa.

What are officials doing about it?

The price spikes have prompted officials in Italy — home to Europe’s largest COVID-19 outbreak — to launch an investigation into online prices for masks and hand sanitizer, Reuters reported.

Amazon has warned its merchants about gouging face mask prices in an email, WIRED reported, writing that some sellers’ overpriced mask listings were deleted from the site.

“We’ve seen isolated incidents across the store, and we identify them and quickly take action,” a spokesperson for Amazon told CBS.

Some sellers say the price increase is a response to current demand.

“They aren’t pulling masks out of the garage,” Ed Rosen, a third-party seller on Amazon, told CBS. “Their costs have gone up, too, because either the masks are being made locally and are more expensive, or suppliers are charging the list price instead of offering discounts.”

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 8:31 AM with the headline "Face mask prices are skyrocketing on Amazon. Do they protect you from coronavirus?."