Island Park pharmacy fined for price gouging masks during coronavirus outbreak

An unidentified pharmacy in Island Park was fined $5,000 by Nassau County’s Office of Consumer Affairs for price gouging protective masks in response to the growing need for them during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to a release by county officials, the pharmacy in Island Park was selling N95 masks for $5 each from open boxes of 20. The individual masks are not labeled for retail sale.

Officials declined to identify the name of the pharmacy, but its owners were fined along with those from a convenience store in Hicksville that was also price gouging on the masks. Additionally, a pharmacy in Glen Head received a warning.

“Both locally and online, sellers are trying to take advantage of the coronavirus outbreak and sell products that are hard to find on shelves at exorbitant prices,” County Executive Laura Curran said. “Not only are these products grossly overpriced, there is question whether they are authentic and safe. The county is partnering with federal and state officials to put an end to this unsavory practice. Please report any instances of unfair price increases immediately to the county or the state so we can protect residents from falling victim and overpaying for essential consumer products.”

Curran, State Sen. Todd Kaminsky and U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice gathered on March 8 at Oceanside Middle School for a news conference to address the issue of price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid the outbreak, online sellers have been price gouging bottles of hand sanitizer. Some had the $3 to $5 product listed for $20 to $100 or more on Amazon.

Gregory May, commissioner of the county’s Office of Consumer Affairs, urged anyone who sees “extraordinarily inflated prices” on sanitary items, such as soaps or sanitizers, to email pricegouging@nassaucountyny.gov or call the price gouging hotline at (800) 697-1220.