An NHS nurse has slammed Boohoo for selling non-protective face masks as fashion accessories while frontline healthworkers fight for PPE.
The health professional, who wished to be kept anonymous, felt the fashion retailer was making a mockery of the current crisis.
The masks, made for both men and women are emblazoned with ‘eat, sleep, isolate, repeat’ and ‘quarantine queen’ selling for £5. Meanwhile, on Boohoo Man there are face masks with skull designs.
On the Boohoo website, there’s a disclaimer that says the masks ‘should not be used as personal protection equipment’.
Some social media users were on the nurse’s side, while others said they didn’t see anything wrong with the fashion item as many were making their own masks anyway.
One commentator wrote: ‘This is really inappropriate – I agree with the nurse.’
Another said: ‘Advice has been that the public don’t need medical grade masks but wearing just a homemade piece of cloth over your mouth can lower the chances of you passing on the infection.
‘So what’s the problem with Boohoo selling a cloth mask to the public to help slow the spread?’
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, the nurse said: ‘Boohoo are selling useless fashion masks that are of no use to the public and are using their greed to make a mockery of people on the frontline.
‘I, myself am a frontline nurse and find it appalling that they feel the need to make PPE into a fashion statement when we are struggling with the provision of this in the hospitals. Disgusting!’
The nurse also shared a message she sent to the Boohoo Instagram page, telling them she was ‘saddened’ to see the products on sale.
She added: ‘This is no joking matter, people are extremely sick and dying from this horrible illness and you feel it appropriate to sell masks that have absolutely no protection to the public whatsoever.’
We’ve contacted Boohoo for comment and will share their response when we receive one.
MORE: #HomeCouture is the latest DIY fashion trend doing the rounds on Instagram
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