In China:
At the end of 2019, news was heard about such a virus, specifically of the coronavirus, rumors began to spread that this new virus came from China, exactly from Wuhan. It did not take long for the virus to spread throughout China, and subsequently around the world. By that point, Chinese authorities had taken the decision to close cities, cancel flights, cancel ground transportation, close public places, and force residents to wear masks as a preventive measure. On the other hand, the Chinese government had plans to build hospitals quickly to cope with this epidemic, as well as to use medical resources such as clinics and hospitals, which, without imagining, days later would get completely out of control.

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In Ecuador:
February 29, the Ecuadorian coast vacations were present, without knowing the news that later would arrive, after 10 o'clock in the morning, comes the news that Ecuadorians feared the most, the COVID-19 is already in the country, but it is an imported case, specifically from Spain, that is what the Minister of Health of that time, Catalina Andramuño, assured.
Hours later with the news that COVID-19 was in the country, and that possibly many more people were infected, chaos began, long lines at the pharmaceutical distributors, the most requested at that time were boxes of masks, gloves, alcohol, vitamin C and hand soap, and it was at that time that prices rose, a box of masks, which at one time cost no more than $5, now cost about $25 and even up to $50 on the most critical days, the same happened with the famous KN95 masks.