WASHINGTON — Developers of at least one pet mask have reported that sales are skyrocketing, in response to this latest Coronavirus scare.
Kirby Holmes, the CEO of Good Air Team, said that sales of their "K9 Masks" spiked by 400% in January, compared to normal levels.
"Most of the growth has not been from customers in China," Holmes said. "But in the USA."
Holmes said the mask is designed to "filter polluted air from wildfire smoke, dust, smog, emissions, chemicals, mold, allergies, and bacteria. He also said that the masks are "effective for protecting dogs from bacteria and viruses but not 100% effective."
"We have not tested our air filters specifically with the Coronavirus," Holmes said. "So we can not guarantee its effectiveness."
Holmes said that the company first started selling the K9 Mask after a Kickstarter Campaign in March, 2019. He said that the masks were designed in response to the wildfires in places like California.
"The bulk of the orders we are receiving are for residents living on the West Coast in the United States," Holmes said. "With air travel to and from China on the West Coast it appears many American families are concerned about the potential spread of the virus to the U.S. mainland."
Holmes said the masks have been sold to the city of Wuhan and Changsha in China, as well as Hong Kong. Masks have also been sold in England, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan and the Phillipines.