N95 mask and sanitisers, recommended for use by the World Health Organisation to prevent infection from coronovirus, are running out of stock in the city.

Medicine outlets in the city said the demand for masks and sanitisers started on Wednesday and peaked on Friday. A few leading outlets said they had run out of stock.

A man whose daughter studies in Delhi’s Amity University bought a mask and sanitiser and couriered it since these items are in short supply in the national capital.

Assam minister of state for health Pijush Hazarika, while admitting to a shortage of masks and sanitizers, said people could maintain personal hygiene by washing their hands with soap and also use the “general mask”.

He said the government has taken adequate steps to ensure availability of masks and sanitisers, adding there is “no reason” to panic.

“People should use sanitiser before eating or they should wash their hands with soap or handwash. People should use N95 mask and if this is not available in the market then one can also use the general mask,” Hazarika said.

Anurag Goel, commissioner and secretary in the health and family welfare department, said there is no shortage of the personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. Healthcare workers rely on PPE to protect themselves and patients from being infected and infecting others.

“We have called on the industry to increase manufacturing to meet rising demand,” Goel said.

In Nagaland, the district task force in Dimapur is being reconstituted with co-opted members, chief medical officer Dr Pangjung Sangtam told a meeting called by deputy commissioner Anoop Khinchi on coronavirus preparedeness in his office on Saturday.

Sangtam said the district task force, which was created on February 26, is being reconstituted after chief secretary Temjen Toy held a video conference with district commissioners and Nagaland commissioner in Kohima to ensure that the state is prepared to tackle the virus.

He said three beds at Dimapur district hospital have been set up as isolation wards while some were identified at a private hospital. He said 40 beds were identified at the district welfare office at Chumukedima. Military hospitals have also been asked to keep some ICUs and isolation wards.

Sangtam said the rapid response team has also been activated and passengers at Dimapur airport are being screened with thermal scanner. An isolation room has been identified at the airport, he said. Flexi banners have been put up in Dimapur railway station

Additional reporting by Bhadra Gogoi in Dimapur