The sale of temporary surgical masks has caused indignation and controversy in the French State. As of May 4, its sale is authorized, but the department stores had been announcing for a week that they would be put on sale in a very advantageous way, with only 95 cents.

On the contrary, medical staff have not been able to obtain masks at pharmacies for as long as the coronavirus has lasted the most. Associations of doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, nurses… all have raised their voices in the face of this speculation: “We are not against all citizens having face masks, but on the condition that pharmacies are well equipped for health workers,” a spokesman for the midwives association told La Croix.

Until now, the sale of these masks was prohibited, as the priority of their acquisition was the health area, but the workers have had many difficulties to protect themselves. Now department stores like Carrefour, Intermarché or Leclerc are selling surgical masks a single million times, as well as other masks that serve the whole world.

They have also started selling masks in Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea and Zuberoa, as explained by a pharmacist from Hendaia to the Basque Country: “We’re happy because we’re already in a position to sell, but our question is how department stores have managed to retain 400 million face masks.” Many suspect they had already been kept.

The Federation of Trade and Suppliers has explained that a demand for government decontainment is being met and that these 400 million face masks are just “orders”. Then another question arises: If they had the ability to channel those demands from China, why didn't they get them for healthcare? However, the Ministry of Health reserves the possibility of properly retaining and distributing these masks from large commercial establishments.