The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 is disrupting regular supply chains and has sharply increased demand for personal protective equipment. WHO reported on 3 March 2020 that since the start of the outbreak, prices of personal protective equipment had surged. The prices of surgical masks had increased six times, the prices of N95 respirators three times and the prices of gowns two times. These price increases were unlikely justified by similar increases in the cost of production and distribution, writes our senior associate Piibe Lehtsaar.