Indian businessman wears gold mask to prevent coronavirus

PUNE: An Indian businessman, from the western city of Pune, had shelled out $4,000 (2.89 lakh Indian rupees) for a bespoke gold face mask to prevent coronavirus raging in the country.

According to details, the precious metal covering weighs 60 grams (two ounces) and took craftsmen eight days to make. “I saw the news about a silver mask. I then spoke to my jeweler and ordered a gold mask,” the businessman said.

Commenting on the gold mask, Indian businessman Shankar Kurhade said, “It is a thin mask and has tiny pores that are helping me to breathe,” adding, “I am not sure if it will be effective to protect me from a coronavirus infection but I am taking other precautions.”

 “I like to adorn myself with gold jewelry weighing a kilogram, including a bracelet, necklace, and rings on each finger of his right hand,” he added. The businessman also said that he also distributed relief material to the needy people amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

He said, “People are asking me for a picture. They are awestruck when they see me wearing the gold mask in markets.”

India has made face masks mandatory in public places in order to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. India has reported around 650,000 confirmed cases and more than 18,600 fatalities.