Local hazmat suit retailers say that they are selling full hazmat suits to clients for nearly R30 000 each. Infectious disease experts have, however, said that there is very little proof that it is necessary to wear hazmat gear to avoid getting the novel covid-19. It appears that South Africans are buying these hazmat suits as investments. They seem to have the idea that demand for these items will spike in countries seriously affected by die virus, like China or Italy.