Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
March 06, 2020 - 12:00 PM
If you're shopping for hand sanitizer or masks in the Kamloops or the Okanagan, you may find limited success.
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.
READ MORE: Tips for better handwashing: lather longer and skip the hand dryer
When looking at hand sanitizers at Walmart Canada website, only one type is currently available in “Limited Stock,” both online and in stores. Most brands are available online with “limited stock” but are not sold in stores. Masks are also available online, but not in stores.
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.
Walmart isn’t the only business being impacted by coronavirus concerns.
Starbucks and Tim Hortons have also issued statements saying it will not be accepting refillable cups.
READ MORE: The latest developments on COVID-19 in Canada
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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