Two mask companies are shutting down as a once sought-after item becomes an afterthought.
Two face mask providers say they are closing, as the slow and steady decline of what was once a much-sought-after item continues.
Project N95, a nonprofit that helped people buy protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, said Monday it would stop selling masks on Dec. 18 and wind down its operations. It said that revenues from mask sales and donations were no longer enough to support its operations. “Over time, we’ve seen reduced demand for masks,” said Anne Miller, the executive director. “It appears that people prefer to risk getting sick rather than taking precautions.”
Mask-C also said it would close at the end of the year. The company’s fashionable products were once a hot commodity, worn by celebrities like Rihanna, Bella Hadid and Jennifer Lopez. “Regrettably, due to circumstances beyond our control, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors,” it said in announcing the closure.
With the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, demand soared for protective masks. Now almost four years later, masks have become an afterthought to most people, even as doctors say they can still have some value.