Coronavirus worries clear KC stores of cleaning, hygiene supplies. And toilet paper
A brief call to Home Depot in Midtown Kansas City on Thursday went like this:
Do you have any hand sanitizer?
“We don’t have any more.”
How about Lysol?
“That’s gone, too. And we don’t know when we’ll be getting more.”
Toilet paper?
“We do have that, but that’s it.”
Ah, the toilet paper.
Amid the panic of the coronavirus pandemic — which has shut down college basketball tournaments across the country, suspended professional sports, canceled parades and festivals and left thousands of Americans self-quarantined — stores have reported a run on cleaning and hygiene supplies. And toilet paper.
Yes, toilet paper. The manager of Strasser Hardware on Southwest Boulevard can’t believe it, either.
“Now people realize we had some and now we’re about out,” said Lucas Orozco, who just had to order more for the Kansas City, Kansas, store. “We’re a hardware store. Who comes to a hardware store for toilet paper? But yeah, they found our stash.”
Just like they do before a massive storm blows in, customers across the country have ransacked store shelves grabbing things they need — or think they need — to be well stocked for weeks.
First, it was the hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. The face masks. Those items make sense for battling a contagious virus that has been deadly for seniors over age 70 and those with pre-existing conditions.
But then, as the pandemic and panic grew, people started buying up the bathroom tissue.
On Thursday, the Costco employee who answered the phone almost seemed apologetic. And well versed in the answer she was about to give.
“We don’t have any toilet paper,” she said when asked about the Kansas City store’s supply. “I was just told the toilet paper will be restocked, hopefully tomorrow.”
But just to make sure, she said, phone ahead in the morning.
Calls to area Sam’s Clubs on Thursday were answered with a message:
“If you are calling to check item availability, please know that due to constantly changing inventory levels, we are not able to provide this information over the phone at this time. The best way to understand current item availability is to visit your local Sam’s Club.”
Price Chopper in Wyandotte Plaza in Kansas City, Kansas, said it had “some toilet paper but not a lot,” as well as a limited amount of hand sanitizer and Lysol. Purchases of liquid bleach and disinfectant wipes are being restricted to two per person.
Lowe’s Home Improvement in North Oak Village still had Lysol available, along with a dwindling supply of disinfectant wipes, an employee said Thursday.
As for toilet paper? “We are running super low,” she said. “We still have some, but we’ve been getting a lot of online orders for it.”
Expert advice
The experts say not to panic, but it is a good idea to have some cleaning and hygiene supplies on hand.
In the case of a coronavirus outbreak in your community, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cleaning “frequently touched surfaces and objects” every day. These include cabinet and door handles, countertops, tables and light switches.
It’s also important to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose or coughing, the CDC says.
If you run out of soap or don’t have access to it, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol can be used instead.
It’s also a good idea to have a “supply of food staples” in your home, other household supplies like laundry detergent and bathroom supplies like toilet paper or diapers for small children, the American Red Cross says.
Having a 30-day supply of all prescription medications on hand as well as over-the-counter drugs such as pain relievers, cold medicines and “fluids with electrolytes and vitamins” is important, the Red Cross says.
The CDC also recommends having extra medicines and medical supplies on hand in the case of an that requires staying home for “a prolonged period of time.”
Health officials have emphasized that people who are not infected with the virus don’t need to wear or stock up on face masks. Only people who have COVID-19 should wear masks to prevent its spread.
Households should have a plan in place in the case of an outbreak, and all members of the household should be on the same page, the CDC says.
Getting to know your neighbors or joining local social media pages can be helpful in staying informed, the CDC says. Households should also have an emergency contact list and be aware of aid organizations in the area.
Households with people who are more prone to serious health complications associated with COVID-19 should have a plan for caring for them, according to the CDC.
Trying to keep up with demand
At Strasser Hardware, employees are doing what they can to keep the hygiene essentials on the shelves.
“We’ve been getting phone calls for two weeks about masks and sanitizer and it’s been, ‘No, no, no, we’re out, we’re out,’” Orozco said. “But last night I got about 20 boxes of masks in, and now I’ve got seven left.”
He’s out of hand sanitizers at this point, too. But he just got a big shipment of Clorox sprays and Clorox concentrates, which have been in high demand.
Orozco said he’s not in a panic himself about running out of supplies. At least not yet.
“I’m cool, I’m not worrying about it,” he said. “But the only thing I’m worried about is, I need toilet paper, so now I’ve got to get crazy like them and go get it.
“I’ve got three kids, I’ve got a wife, I’ve got my mom. I’ve got to make sure everything is clean. I got the last box of baby wipes at Walmart today.”
Bailey Aldridge of The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
