Fear of coronavirus: New Yorkers empty store shelves

New Yorkers stock up on non-perishable foods and household items as fears rise that an outbreak of the new virus will become nationwide. People buy dry food, alcohol, and hand sanitizers, toilet paper, and medicine. This publication writes Nikkei.

Over the weekend, shoppers in the United States visited local stores such as Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Duane Reade to stock up on non-perishable foods and household items. People began to take action as fears grew that the outbreak of the new virus would become nationwide.

After Washington announced the first confirmed death from a new coronavirus on Saturday, four more patients in the state died on Monday evening, March 2.

New York State also announced the first confirmed case on Sunday, March 1, of a woman from Manhattan who contracted the infection while traveling in Iran.

The general coverage of the global spread of the disease on television and on social networks has prompted American families to buy basic necessities. The same phenomenon is observed in other countries, for example, in Japan.

Representatives of the American Red Cross last week told the public how to "prepare if the risk of coronavirus in the US rises." It was recommended that people stock up on staple foods and household items. In particular, provide at least a 30-day supply of prescription drugs and have other medicines on hand.

On weekends, shoppers raided major retailers like Costco. Shares of the wholesale company on Monday, March 2, rose 9,96% to $ 309,14.

According to a source, many supermarkets are running out of supplies. In New York, for example, customers emptied some shelves in the dry food department of the entire Columbus Circle grocery market. The store lacks non-perishable food and water. This publication was reported by a market employee who asked not to give his identity.

On the subject: Coronavirus in New York: the first case of infection was confirmed in the city

“It's like a raid,” customer Stephanie Chan said. "I've never seen anything like this." Disinfection wipes were also emptied at the Duane Reade pharmacy chain on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Common household items like toilet paper have also become a luxury. Over the counter cold and flu remedies are almost out of stock at the same Duane Reade store.

Buyers sweep hand sanitizers. One employee said that the store ordered hand sanitizer three times and that it usually ships within two to three days, but the parcel has not yet arrived.

Buyers did not disregard medical alcohol, sweeping it off the shelves, as well as brown bottles of hydrogen peroxide.

According to a control site maintained by John Hopkins University, more than 90 cases of COVID-000 have been confirmed worldwide, more than 19 people have died from this virus.

China remains the center of the epidemic, with over 80 cases, but the virus seems to be moving elsewhere. For example, to South Korea, Italy and Iran. In the United States, the number of confirmed cases of infection exceeds 000.

“It's not so much about whether it will happen, but about when exactly it will happen and how many people in this country will suffer serious illness,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers on Disease Control and Prevention, during a press briefing on Tuesday March 3rd.