Since the outbreak of COVID-19, masks have become mandatory in overcrowdedpublic spaces as officials work to break the chain of transmission. Senior DefenceMinister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob stated that the decision to mandate the wearingof masks was made following reports of new clusters in the workplace.At the same time, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs also decidedto set the price ceiling of face masks to ensure that the people are not financiallyburdened. In order to secure a sufficient supply of medical face masks for Malaysians,the ministry even banned the export of health masks in March 2020.

Differentiate between need and demand in health economies.