Almost as instantly as the news broke of the pandemic reaching the country, Mexico's pharmacies have already rut of medical supplies and equipment.

Amid this crisis, street vendors are risking their health outside their homes to earn what measly income they can for their day to day sustenance. It appears that, in the middle of a protective equipment shortage, products like face masks and antibacterial gel are being sold in makeshift markets.

Mandatory Masks

Earlier into the start of the quarantine, local authorities signed a decree that required residents to wear face masks in public at all times. At the time, masks were still being distributed. Governor of Oaxaca Alejandro Murat said strict compliance must be observed, or else people will be sanctioned by fine or other punishments.

In most places, such as the Nuevo León, masks are compulsory to wear even in modes of transportation like taxis and other vehicles with services that permit sharing rides with other passengers. Failure to comply with these restrictions will result in termination of company contracts or jail time, State Health Minister Manuel de la O Cavazos said.

Despite preventive measures from local authorities, Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell mentioned that masks would only give people a "false sense of security" and that they should not let their guards down even when they wear protective equipment. Hygiene is also important, as is social distancing. Without all these, masks will be futile.

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Street Vendors Risking Lives

Low-income workers have turned to the streets to earn a living. Makeshift stalls are set up along the highways and gutters to sell face masks to compensate for insufficient sales.

In Mexico City, in particular, market booths sell face masks for low prices, providing a much cheaper alternative to the pharmacy products that are increased by 200 percent due to high demand.

Instead of the usual street food and clothing, the stalls of the street vendors are filled with face masks for five pesos each. These are stored in small, used, cardboard boxes wrapped in plastic.

Instead of staying safely home, Amadeo Vidal is over 70 years old and is currently risking his health just to get by during the pandemic. Many others like him are so frail that they must be sent home to rest and avoid the crowds, but Amadeo insists that there is no home to go back to. Selling face masks has become a means of survival.

Some vendors make the masks themselves by sewing together pieces of fabric. While it is not prohibited that these people sell on the streets, it is highly discouraged. But people like Angel Ricardo Meza say that they are left with no alternatives.

"I have to earn money," he says. He adds that the price of products has increased twofold, such as that of alcohol and medicine. "A liter of alcohol you could have gotten for 37 or 38 pesos is now 120 pesos."

Street vendors know their health is at risk by continuing to sell goods in the market, but the only way they can afford to stay at home is to make a profit. As long as they're earning from their makeshift market, they are safe, and they can survive another day.