Face masks against Covid are available for 15 cents each.

The test is whether disposable face masks against Covid (surgical-style or similar) could be bought for about $0.15 each, whether retail or in bulk, in November 2020. TRUE: masks were commonly offered at roughly $0.10–0.20 per unit. MOSTLY TRUE: the lowest common prices were about $0.20–0.30 per unit, or $0.15 was reached only on large wholesale orders. MOSTLY FALSE: prices near $0.15 were rare outliers and typical prices were much higher. FALSE: no masks were available at less than about twice $0.15 per unit (above about $0.30).

Set before the research began.

1. E1 California paid a price for mask shortage in dollars and lives, coronavirus study finds Los Angeles Times · 12 August 2020

   “A single surgical mask, for example, cost 5 cents during nonpandemic times, the report said, citing multiple published and unpublished pricing sources. The price rose to 55 cents each during the pandemic.”

2. E2 Supplying the System: DCH Supply Chain Team Meets Pandemic's PPE Challenges Head On DCH Health System · 16 June 2020

   “As for surgical masks, the per-unit cost was around 5 cents. Now the market is ranging from 65 cents to $1.50 each.”

3. E3 Europe's COVID-19 Spending Spree Unmasked Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) · 21 October 2020

   “Half of those purchased cost less than 3.27 euros each, and 75 percent cost less than 4.9 euros each. The cheapest 25% of masks cost under 2.2 euros.”

4. E4 Europe's COVID-19 Spending Spree Unmasked Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) · 21 October 2020

   “Ukraine and Czechia had the wildest variance in prices paid for FFP2 masks, ranging from just over 20 cents per unit to as much as 37 euros.”

5. E5 Disposable Face Masks, Breathable Face Mask for Home, Office, On the Go - Blue PRM Filtration · 8 April 2020

   “We understand that pricing of masks today in 2020 are at a market high and PRM has taken every measure possible to keep prices as low as possible.”

The criteria ask what disposable masks cost in November 2020, and none of the evidence gives a price from that month. The closest figures come from reports dated June to October 2020. A study reported in August put surgical masks at 55 cents each during the pandemic (E1), and a health system said in June that the market ranged from 65 cents to $1.50 (E2). OCCRP's October report gives FFP2 mask prices in Ukraine and Czechia from just over 20 cents up to 37 euros, and says half of the masks purchased in its data cost less than 3.27 euros (E3, E4). These sources suggest prices were well above 15 cents earlier in 2020, but they do not show what was available in November 2020. Prices could have changed by then, so the claim cannot be resolved on this evidence.