Nepal, Feb. 21 -- Suyash Dahal, 17, has taken to wearing surgical masks everywhere he goes ever since he first heard news about the potential coronavirus pandemic. Dahal, who is a +2 student, mentions that although he never wore masks until a couple of weeks ago because he finds them uncomfortable, he feels masks have become a necessity right now. The masks, he believes, will, to a certain extent, guard him against infections when he is out. And he thus feels a little safer.

"I wear glasses because I'm short-sighted and wearing a mask with it is very inconvenient as it fogs up the lenses. But because of the coronavirus, I wear masks regardless of how inconvenient they are," says Dahal.

Like Dahal, many people have started wearing masks ...