New measures took effect on Monday to resolve a face mask supply shortage in South Korea amid the coronavirus epidemic.
People can only purchase two face masks per week at pharmacies on designated days based on the last digit of their birth year.
Those born in years that end with 1 or 6 can buy masks on Monday, 2 or 7 on Tuesday, 3 or 8 on Wednesday, 4 or 9 on Thursday, and 5 or 0 on Friday, with weekends open to all who were unable to make purchases.
To track and limit the sales of masks, citizens are required to show ID at the time of purchase while foreigners must provide their alien registration card and national health insurance papers.
Families are allowed to make purchases for minors under the age of 10 and for the elderly over the age of 80.
Non-family members can also help the disabled buy masks.
For a limited time, people will still be allowed to buy one mask per day at Hanaro Marts and post offices across the country until the new guidelines are applied consistently.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
