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• WHITESTONE TIMES
Feb. 14-20, 2020
MASK SHORTAGE IN FLUSHING
Senior center receives donation of face masks due to shortage amid coronavirus scare
TEMPERS FLARE AT CB 7 HEARING
Protesters lead a chant after an altercation during Community Board 7’s public hearing over the
Special Flushing Waterfront District, which saw the board vote in favor of the approval of the
project. See story on Page 24. Photo: Max Parrott/QNS
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The demand and price of a
face mask has increased as fear
continues to linger amongst senior
citizens in Flushing since
the coronavirus outbreak.
In lieu of mask shortages,
Steve Lee, a candidate for District
Assembly 40, purchased
a total of 5,000 N95 masks to
donate to seniors in Flushing
on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Self
Help Benjamin Rosenthal Senior
Center on 42-25 Kissena
Blvd.
“Given that this virus has
resulted in racial discrimination
and hostility towards
Asians and Asian-Americans,
we hope this act of kindness
will remind the community
that we should remain united
regardless of age, ethnicity
or social class in these trying
times,” said Sophie Hsu, Lee’s
campaign director.
Lee’s donation comes amid
the surging prices of face
masks both locally and worldwide.
According to reports, in
Hong Kong, the price for a box
of 20 N95 respirator masks were
sold for HK$700 ($90 USD). The
price for a box of 50 masks now
costs HK$2,500 ($321 USD). At
TESO’s in Flushing on Union
Street, the cost for a 20-pack
supply of face masks is $120.
The N95 mask is used for
sanding, sweeping, woodworking
and working with fiberglass
insulating particles. It
also helps to protect against
particles such as mold, granular
pesticides, allergens and
dust.
Amid the coronavirus
scare, the Flushing Self Help
Center placed a bulk order of
the sought-after face masks on
Amazon two weeks ago, and is
still awaiting the delivery, said
Jane Qui, program director.
According to Qui, because
there are no masks available
for the volunteers and cafeteria
workers, senior attendance
since Jan. 27 has decreased by
about 100 per day.
“We used to have 350 Friday
participants and today we’re
down to 250,” Quid said.
“Although the CDC, governor
and mayor said there are
no confirmed cases of novel
coronavirus in the city, there’s
still panic and fear,” Qui added.
“The donation from Mr.
Steven Lee for the seniors is
very much welcomed and appreciated.”
Although the center remains
open and group classes
are canceled, Qui said she had
received a message from a client
saying it should be shut
down.
“They had said, ‘If my
mother has something I will
take you to court,’” Qui said.
“Our number one task here
is safety. We don’t want any
seniors becoming sick at
our center and we are very
careful.”
According to Qui, the Self
Help Center has taken strict
precaution by sanitizing the
facility and providing seniors
with a daily update from city
officials on the coronavirus.
She has reiterated the importance
of seniors washing their
hands with warm water and
soap, covering their mouth
while coughing and using
hand sanitizer.
“I’ve heard there are also
other senior centers that are
experiencing a decrease in
senior attendance,” Qui said.
“The flu epidemic is much
more severe than the novel
coronavirus.”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
We hope this act of kindness will remind
the community that we should remain
united regardless of age, ethnicity or
social class in these trying times.
Sophie Hsu
Vol. 86 No. 7 44 total pages
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