As coronavirus spreads, Korn-branded face masks sell out

Coronavirus is causing stocks to fall, regions to go into lockdown, and supplies of toilet roll to run worryingly low. But you really know a collective mania has set in when people turn to Korn merch for help.

As The Quietus reports, stocks of the metal band's branded surgical mask are now unavailable on their webstore following a rush of orders in the past few weeks. Priced at $11, the masks will be back in stock next month but who knows what the world will look like by then? A major problem with self-isolation is that there's nobody to see your Koronavirus drip. [Ed. Note: ugh.]

Perhaps more importantly, the masks do not actually stop you contracting the COVID-19 virus. "Surgical masks are not considered respirators by OSHA," a disclaimer on the Korn site reads. "They are fluid resistant, disposable, and loose-fitting protection that create a physical barrier between the mouth and nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. Surgical masks do not seal tightly to the wearer's face, nor do they provide a reliable level of protection from inhaling smaller airborne particles or viruses."

Coronavirus has already made an impact on the music world with the news that festivals including SXSW and Ultra Music Festival in Miami have both been axed over public health fears. BTS were also forced to pull two dates in Seoul, South Korea for the same reason.