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By Lisa Baertlein and Melissa Fares
LOS ANGELES / NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (Reuters) – Toilet paper aisles empty again as curfews and COVID-19 closures in states from California to New York send shoppers weary of the pandemic into a new rush for essentials.
Walmart said Friday it “saw pockets of below-normal availability” for toilet paper and cleaning supplies in some communities as infections run virtually unchecked in most of the United States.
As of Friday afternoon, 22 states imposed restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of the virus – resulting in a new wave of panic buying from shoppers and buying limits from retailers, including Target and Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain.
Shoppers in half a dozen cities across the United States told Reuters that the disinfectant wipes are out of stock at discount retailers like Walmart and Costco, as well as at Albertsons and grocery chains. Vons owned by Cerberus Capital.
“The Walmarts are mostly running out of Lysol wipes again, and toilet paper is out again,” said Whitley Hatcher, 31, a collections specialist in Tucson, Ariz.
“Oddly enough, in places like Walgreens and Dollar Tree, you can find what you need. I think people see empty shelves in department stores and panic,” Hatcher said.
At a Costco in Vancouver, Wash. – where the new rules include temporary indoor eating bans – the stockouts included toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning wipes, gloves and canned meat for spam.
And the toilet paper hunt is on again in California, where the governor on Thursday ordered a curfew on all social gatherings inside and non-essential activities outside the home across much of the country. ‘State.
Shoppers said toilet paper is sold out at Costco stores in Fresno and Los Angeles.
In San Diego, internet marketer Melin Isa took note of further shortages during a recent ice cream race at her local Vons. “The TP aisle is empty. The big milk cans are almost gone. Lots of ice,” Isa said.
The maker of Charmin Procter & Gamble, the largest seller of toilet paper in the United States, said it was operating 24/7 factories to meet demand.
Over the past few months, retailers have had to make significant and costly changes to their supply chains to cope with unexpected surges in demand.
In response to a tweet complaining about the depleted toilet paper and paper towels, Walmart’s Sam’s Club said, “We’re working to replenish these items as quickly as possible.” (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Melissa Fares in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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