Retailers who cash in on community fears about SARS by exaggerating the health benefits of surgical masks could face fines of up to $110,000.
NSW Fair Trading Minister Reba Meagher yesterday warned that distributors and traders could be prosecuted if it was suggested the masks offered unrealistic levels of protection from the disease.
"I'm sure everyone would agree that it is un-Australian to profiteer from people's fears and anxieties," Ms Meagher said.
"There appears to be some debate about whether surgical masks are able to minimise the effects of SARS."
Ms Meagher said her department would investigate any complaints about false mask claims which concerned the public.
This discussion was allowed to happen because we had more common sense back then and didn't have social media to spread the virulent lies about masks at every turn. There were no internet " fact checkers" back in 2003. People knew that mask wearing did very little to stop the spread.
Somehow in 2020 / 2021, we've become embedded in full clown world, where all scientific and medical knowledge gets thrown out the window.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/farce-mask-its-safe-for-only-20-minutes-20030427-gdgnyo.html
This discussion was allowed to happen because we had more common sense back then and didn't have social media to spread the virulent lies about masks at every turn. There were no internet " fact checkers" back in 2003. People knew that mask wearing did very little to stop the spread.
Somehow in 2020 / 2021, we've become embedded in full clown world, where all scientific and medical knowledge gets thrown out the window.