Chemists and grocery store chains across Australia have been experiencing an unusually high demand for hand sanitiser as panic sets in over the coronavirus.
The shortage for the product has been photographed in various stores across the country, with people beginning to stock up in a bid to protect themselves from the COVID-19 virus.
Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline and Kmart have all run out of hand sanitiser. #coronavirusaustralia
— Priscilla Flett (@FlettPriscilla) February 1, 2020
Stores like Coles, Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse have been experiencing shortages of antibacterial gel, with the CEO of Australian skin care range MooGoo, Craig Jones, claiming their entire six-month stock of hand sanitiser had been taken from shelves in just a mere four days.
“We then made a backup batch and sold out of that too,” said Mr Jones told news.com.au.
“The Natural Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel uses an essential oil that kills 99.999 per cent of pathogens in the standard test.”
Mr Jones says the healthcare item which typically ranges anywhere from $3 -$5 depending on size and brand, is one of the “key measures from keeping the virus from spreading”.
A spokesperson from Coles confirmed the “shortage” of antibacterial handwashes and hand sanitiser products sold in stores was “due to extremely high customer demand”.
“While we are working closely with our suppliers to improve availability, some products may be temporarily out of stock,” the spokesperson said.
Woolworths also told news.com.au they had shortages of some products, saying: “We are working very closely with our suppliers to get these products back on shelves as quickly as possible.
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience to our customers.”
Hand sanitiser aisle at Woolworths. All gawn. pic.twitter.com/sJrdl4wfes
— Ignoble Jim Houghton (@JimRHoughton) February 1, 2020
Mario Tascone, the Retail Group director for Chemist Warehouse told The Courier Mail that their “store was one of the smart ones”.
“We’d rather satisfy 1000 people than satisfy one person who wants to buy 1000 bottles,” he said
COVID-19 has now been confirmed in at least 45 countries, and many of these nations have created emergency plans and travel restrictions on the worst-affected places.
Australia activated its emergency response plan yesterday amid rising concerns of a potential coronavirus pandemic.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the number of new cases reported outside China exceeded the number of new cases in China for the first time.
On Tuesday, 411 new cases of the COVID-19 disease were reported in China, while 427 were reported outside the country, WHO said.
