Wigan firm's protective mask sales rocket 1100 per cent in a month as coronavirus outbreak spreads

Pemberton-based retailer Vizwear saw 1100 per cent increase in sales of face masks on their website, selling more this February than the whole of 2019 combined.

The company has also seen dramatic sale increases in protective suits, resulting in a whopping increase in sales in February this year compared to January.

The sharp increase in face masks and protective suits sales has been seen as a result of the UK public and businesses taking extra precautions to protect themselves from the covid-19

outbreak now hitting the UK.

News reports have suggested that shoppers are panic buying food stocks and cleaning products such as antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer.

Sales in hand sanitizer alone have increased by a massive 255 per cent since coronavirus reached UK shores last month.

In light of the dramatic sale increases, Daniel Ure, director of sales at Vizwear, said: “Over the last month we have experienced extremely high demand for face masks products and protective suits from our customers.

"The Vizwear team are also receiving large numbers of inquires daily from people looking to buy this equipment and are working tirelessly to replenish stock and keep up with demand.

"Whilst it’s encouraging to see people taking steps to prepare themselves for a potential outbreak, the masks that Vizwear currently sell are targeted towards workers within the trade

and construction industry and aren’t designed for medical reasons.”

The company said that that there had been a big rise in the number of new customers since coronavirus was first detected and that a lot of the products had been exported to China from where the virus originated.