Counterfeit face masks 'reaching frontline health staff in US'

Fake medical masks that don’t protect against coronavirus have been distributed to healthcare workers across the US, according to an investigative report.

An Associated Press probe claims to have tracked the substandard masks to a US-certified factory in China – Shanghai Dasheng – which is also involved in the production of legitimate medical masks.

It claims “millions of medical masks, gloves, gowns and other supplies being used in hospitals across the country, putting lives at risk,” blaming relaxed government standards.

Before the pandemic, N95 masks sold for about 60 cents each, says AP. Now they’re priced as high as $6 apiece.