Toilet paper frenzy: Kelowna residents clear out store shelves over coronavirus concerns | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

Toilet paper frenzy: Kelowna residents clear out store shelves over coronavirus concerns

No toilet paper could be found at the Kelowna Superstore, March 6.
Image Credit: Kathy Michaels

It was pandemonium in Kelowna’s Costco yesterday, as residents huddled around the toilet paper aisle.

A Costco employee said the store is able to keep up with the high demand as they get a new shipment of toilet paper every night. Saturday’s shipment included 400 new packages of toilet paper.

In Kelowna's Real Canadian Superstore, shelves were completely bare, March 6, in the toilet paper aisle.

An employee recommended shopping early for toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as the store is expecting to sell out on Saturday.

Residents stock up on toilet paper at Kelowna's Costco, March 6.
Residents stock up on toilet paper at Kelowna's Costco, March 6.
Image Credit: Kathy Michaels

B.C. residents has been reporting that toilet paper, hand sanitizer and masks have been difficult to find as people stock up on essential items as the coronavirus epidemic continues worldwide.

Walmarts in Penticton, Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops have been completely sold out of masks and hand sanitizer for the last month, according to Walmart employees.

Employees didn’t know when the stores will be restocked, and one Vernon employee said the manufacturer can’t keep up with the demand for hand sanitizer.

Health professionals have said washing your hands using soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if soap isn’t available is the best way to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Government of Canada recommends that Canadians avoid non-essential travel to China and Iran due to an outbreak of COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus. The government recommends that Canadians avoid all travel to the province of Hubei due to very strict travel and movement restrictions imposed by Chinese authorities to limit the spread of the virus.

As of March 5, 2020, 45 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Canada, 21 of which have been reported in B.C.

 


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