Thieves in Japan have made off with some 6,000 surgical masks from a hospital, with the country facing a mass shortage and a huge price hike online due to the coronavirus.

Four boxes containing the face masks disappeared from a locked storage facility at the Japanese Red Cross hospital in the western port city of Kobe, a hospital official said on Tuesday.

“We still have a large number of masks — enough to continue our daily operations at the hospital, but this is so deplorable,” the official told AFP.

Police have launched an investigation as they suspect the thieves intend to resell the masks. Masks have sold out at many drug and discount stores across the nation as the number of infections have increased in Japan — one of the most affected countries after China where the death toll from the virus has hit 1,800.

Public anxiety has been also fuelled by headlines of hundreds of people infected with the virus onboard a ship quarantined off Japan.

The theft came after knife-wielding men jumped a delivery driver and stole hundreds of toilet rolls on Monday in Hong Kong, where the coronavirus outbreak has fuelled a run on face masks, hand sanitiser and toilet paper.

Japanese flea market app Mercari called on its users to trade masks “within socially accepted limits” after a box of 65 masks was priced at more than 50,000 yen ($456) at its online marketplace.

The Japanese government has “strongly requested” mask makers to boost output, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters last week.

There has been a shortage of masks at drug stores in the hygiene-conscious nation where face masks have been part of everyday streetwear for decades.

Source: https://m.guardian.ng/life/coronavirus-scare-thieves-steal-6000-hygiene-masks-in-japan/

Apple revenue will be hit as coronavirus creates iPhone supply shortages, company warns
Apple warned investors on Monday that the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is hurting its business more than previously expected by limiting how many devices it can make and sell in China.

In an investor update, Apple said it no longer expects to meet the revenue guidance it provided last month for the upcoming March quarter. "Work is starting to resume around the country, but we are experiencing a slower return to normal conditions than we had anticipated," the company said.

Much of Apple's manufacturing operations are based in China, which has been hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Nearly half the country's population are living under some form of travel restrictions.

"The health and well-being of every person who helps make these products possible is our paramount priority, and we are working in close consultation with our suppliers and public health experts as this ramp continues," Apple said. "These iPhone supply shortages will temporarily affect revenues worldwide."

Apple (AAPL) temporarily closed all of its stores in China. While the company said it is "gradually reopening" stores, those locations have reduced hours and that foot traffic is "very low."

The company expects the business disruption to be temporary. In general, iPhone sales are surging, up nearly 8% to $56 billion in the last three months of 2019.

Major international companies have closed offices and factories in response to the deadly virus. Some are starting to reopen, but the situation is still far from business as usual.

Huawei, the country's top smartphone maker, recently reopened its Shenzhen headquarters where it employs about 40,000 people, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person said its decision was in line with local guidelines that authorized businesses to reopen.
But employees returned to a dramatically different environment than the one they left in January. When they clock in each morning, Huawei workers must now provide details about their body temperature and whereabouts for the last two weeks, the person said. There are also temperature checks at office buildings and in parking lots, while face masks and hand sanitizers are dispensed throughout its campus.
Baidu (BIDU), China's top search engine provider, said recently that it was "gradually" reopening its offices. But employees who come in "must meet quarantine conditions, and they can only return to work in the campus after approval," the company said in an internal memo seen by CNN Business.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/17/tech/apple-iphone-coronavirus/index.html

Are the thieves Nigerians?
Just asking for a friend

Hustlers! �

Desperation

Thieves dey that side?

Very bad

Mad people full this world, how are we sure its not a Spy that wants to get the virus spreading in Japan that stole the preventive face mask

Any country that first comes up with the cure especially, if it is US or Russia then we can successfully say the virus was created by evil Government to sell its antiretroviral drugs

.

Only the strong survive ni ......

R.I.P Japan

If this happened in Nigeria, Some whole lots would have started calling the country all sorts of derogatory names.

But it's never been their fault, it's just lack of exposure.

Re

Health masks is now worth more than gold and diamonds in Asia.

For those thieves, stealing the health masks is like robbing the Central Bank.

Nawa o

Armed robbery is not limited to Africa after all.

Hard times call for desperate measures

Y

Not taking chances but shouldn't let others suffer

That Thief must be from China. Mask is selling like noodles presently in China

And they have not still find the cure of the virus.

O serious oo


Check our last post, DM ur order for your kids

Sign

Mateen1000:
Are the thieves Nigerians?
Just asking for a friend

U don't know how stupid you sound

this is serious oo
Thieves everywhere

Can iPhone users now see their phones are made in China also?

Hygiene masks be like gold for asia now...


Masks for sale! 100k for one..
Buy now so that when coronavirus hits naija una no talk "had i know"

I believe their will be a hike of $$$ for face mask � in these South-Asia!!

They must be nigerian politician

Nothing wey thief no dey steal. Mtchewww.

a mad man surely created this virus