- US consumers appear to be stocking up on food and medical supplies.
- US sales of hand sanitizer soared 428% in the week ending January 25 compared with the same period last year, according to Nielsen data.
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US stores are starting to run low on some goods as the threat of the coronavirus grows.
We've seen this pattern play out in China and Italy in recent weeks as people rush to stock up on essentials in response to surges in reported cases of the novel coronavirus.
Here's what people are seeing at stores across the US.
SEE ALSO: Starbucks reopens most stores in China, citing 'early signs of recovery' from coronavirus
Fears over the coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease called COVID-19, have led to massive spikes in the sales of certain goods.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233083305840349184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
These photos are from yesterday and the day before. Respirators and cheaper water = empty shelves. Northern California. pic.twitter.com/2LpfMON3VL
Face masks have seen the biggest increase in sales, which has prompted global shortages.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232472339989745665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
both mask sections at Home Depot looking empty. also the water section at target... #coronavirus#COVIDー19pic.twitter.com/CV4Urjt5hl
Sales increases began appearing in January. US sales of medical masks soared 428% in the week ending January 25 compared with the same week a year ago, according to Nielsen data.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233173786012221440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Home Depot was out of masks & said due to current events we have a limited supply and this is high key kind of terrifying #coronaviruspic.twitter.com/B8LbtEx7fo
The surge in sales has resulted in complete outages of masks at stores across the US.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233180520709808128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@JeffMacke @RampCapitalLLC @RudyHavenstein @StockCats @jposhaughnessy Respiratory masks all gone at my Home Depot. pic.twitter.com/QmUtgMJcyg
Many Home Depot stores have posted signs limiting customers to 10 masks per purchase.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232831495334760448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
No N-95 masks at Home Depot... thank goodness we're in the good hands of the Trump administration 😅 #coronaviruspic.twitter.com/SpeG2ouiSh
While face masks are flying off shelves, no health organizations are recommending that healthy people wear surgical masks or N95 respirator masks.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233206083272888321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
No panic going on here....empty shelves of paint respirators at Home Depot... pic.twitter.com/h6kStHcUIq
Health officials are instead encouraging people to avoid the risk of infection by washing their hands frequently and thoroughly.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233099648950247424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Just went to be in home depot to grab a few things. Figured I'd see how they were on masks. We are 3 hours from any major city..... pic.twitter.com/2101dXYka4
Officials have also said that healthy people buying masks could worsen shortages and leave medical professionals without appropriate gear.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232721063919915008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I tried to buy masks at my CVS. Empty shelves, of course. An employee said it has been like this for a month. #Covid19usapic.twitter.com/rEhDbVIPLM
As a person pointed out on Twitter, the shortages could also leave workers in other professions — such as construction — exposed to harmful substances.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233081145681698822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The #coronavirusus panic is real in #rochmn - Home Depot says its shelves are raided of N45 masks as soon as they're stocked, leaving builders, construction workers, etc, w/o needed gear. pic.twitter.com/2TFXzPFoQf
In addition to medical masks, consumers are also stocking up on hand sanitizer, thermometers, oat milk, and toilet paper.
In the week ending January 25, thermometer sales rose 43%, and oat-milk sales rose 440% compared with last year.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232749040070209537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
meanwhile in supply stores across central #Minnesota the supply of face masks are already depleted😳 I made several stops this morning and found nothing but empty shelves... #coronavirususa#coronavirusus#coronavirusminnesotapic.twitter.com/TybhPtF3Tm
Cold and flu medicines are also running low in some areas, according to posts on social media.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233322870492647425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Continued.... Empty shelves where masks and cough/ flu medicines and thermometers in baby sections. Vaporub, you nsme it, gone. pic.twitter.com/VPBzr2Aq8Q
As retailers are hit with surges in the sales of some products, they are simultaneously trying to manage supply-chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus.
These disruptions include the closures of some factories and offices in areas hard hit by the virus.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233243116020412416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Hmmmm... Empty shelves of respirator masks. Yet, Trump says there's nothing to worry about? pic.twitter.com/VhPlpgKQlz
"Retailers, more than other industries, will experience widespread impact on supply chains," Shanton Wilcox, the US manufacturing lead at PA Consulting, said.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233121305764999168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I'm 0 for 4 on my mask hunt in Tallahassee today. CVS and Walgreens (shown here) have empty shelves where the masks should be— I'm told it's looked like this for weeks. Story coming up at 5 on @WCTVpic.twitter.com/1KMiY3mVav
Some people may be stocking up on goods in anticipation of problems around supply-chain disruptions.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233051304576069632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Mom: stock up on face masks & hand sanitizer now, once theres an outbreak, it'll be impossible to get them. Me: relax.. Mom: I lived through communism, I remember empty shelves! Me: ok, I'll get 'em just for you but don't worry, this is America, stuff doesn't run out. America: pic.twitter.com/uM1kmwz1uu
Others may be stocking up in the event that coronavirus cases spread in their communities and they want to avoid going to public places where they could risk infection.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232885705820557312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Empty shelves at Target in St. Paul MN.. far away from any infected cases. #coronavirus#COVIDー19pic.twitter.com/nbyfz6sg7C
But don't panic: So far, there are no signs of widespread food shortages in the US.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1232403938525057024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Just came back from Target,
Masks and Hand sanitizer,low or empty. pic.twitter.com/U53NLZ7ITi
Some people have reported seeing low inventories of canned foods, rice, and bottled water.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1231590878558539777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
@Target Empty shelves on a Sunday morning in Florissant MO. What's the deal!? pic.twitter.com/94rD47hejF
But overall, grocery and convenience stores appear pretty well-stocked for now.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1228404864713023488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#CoronaVirus I'm not even going to bother with Walgreens, Rite Aids, or Lowe's anymore, now looking for a med supply store. 😒 Empty shelves. No masks. Not sure why they aren't buying the gloves too? pic.twitter.com/CoNMZvhrLB
That could change if the risk of coronavirus continues to grow in the US and people grow increasingly fearful.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233404088630382592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This is the Respirator Mask Wall at local Home Depot yesterday. That is all #TrumpViruspic.twitter.com/shIhZcfXQw
"Our greatest enemy right now is not the virus itself. It's fear, rumors and stigma," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233401914483716096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Home Depot was cleared out. 3M must be super upset about how things are going. pic.twitter.com/oVHZDbK2pa
"Most cases can still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases," he said. "We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities."
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1233373980339376128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
You know how milk, eggs, and toilet paper fly off the shelves before a snowstorm? In the case of a global pandemic... the same thing happens with respiratory masks (online and brick and mortar... this was from Home Depot in Bethesda last night) #flumasks#coronaviruspic.twitter.com/A8VSDUFsKU