Earlier quoted context omitted.
Those masks are manufactured in China and are not available? Something doesn’t add up
Yes, scalpers swoop them up in all online stores. They are even sold out on Amazon US, Canada, UK and DE. I was told only the ones with a N95 rating can be effective against this virus. https://www.amazon.com/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8210-Pack/d...
N95 masks need to be fit properly [1], and are very uncomfortable for daily use.
Surgical masks are a good compromise for going out in public, and mostly protect others from the mask-wearer. It's more important to practise good hygiene to avoid infection [2].
[1] https://www.osha.gov/video/respiratory_protection/fittesting...
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/health/coronavirus-surgic...