Americans Clear Supermarket Shelves Of Health & Basic Supplies As Country Reports First Covid-19 Death

Americans Crowd Supermarkets & Hoard Supplies As Covid-19 Cases Increase

America reported their first Covid-19 death on Saturday (29 Feb) –  a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions in Seattle, reported Associated Press.

Crowds are flocking to supermarkets amid the ongoing rise in cases there, forming long queues even past the main entrances.

A Costco in Hawaii with long queues
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This situation mirrors what has happened in countries like Singapore, South Korea, and New Zealand.

State health departments advising Americans to stock up

We’re seeing what is the beginning stage of an outbreak in the USA, with people mainly snapping up masks and sanitisers.

However, supermarkets are also seeing non-perishable items flying off the shelves as state health departments in Hawaii and Minnesota advise residents to stock up.

Items like non-perishable food and water, prescription medicine, and sanitary products are quickly running low.

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It has come to the point where supermarkets are facing toilet paper shortage.

Twitter user @hapa_girl33 posted a picture of a Costco in Hawaii, where there are now limits on the amount of products currently facing shortage.

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It’s presumably a proactive move to ensure that those who require these necessities still get what they need.

Situation in supermarkets not as dire – yet

It’s not as though every supermarket across the country has run out of stocks – yet.

Places like Hawaii, an isolated island which relies heavily on exports, do have a real risk of running out – hence the “need” to stock up.

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However, Ed Kelly, an analyst, predicts that major chains like Walmart and Target may see empty shelves by as early as April.

Panic-buying not advised by national authorities

In places where stocks are not likely to run out soon, there’s no need to hoard supplies.

The Centres for Disease Protection (CDC), which manages disease outbreaks in the U.S., has not advised residents to panic-buy.

CDC director Robert Redfield warned against those who are healthy to stockpile goods.

Whether someone should stock up definitely depends on where they live – if a state has enough supplies like Singapore, there’s really no need.

Featured image adapted from Twitter and Twitter.