Coronavirus: Empty shelves in Tesco and Asda in Portsmouth as shoppers hunt for hand gel, toilet roll, paracetamol and food

SHELVES in stores across the area are selling huge quantities of hand sanitisers, cheap non-brand paracetamol and toilet rolls as coronavirus ‘stockpiling’ sets in.
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Stocks are being replenished by big chain supermarkets but images reveal the extent of the virus-driven sales.

Asda in Fratton had bare shelves in its toilet roll aisle this week, hand sanitiser has become difficult to obtain in many stores and Tesco was also running low on loo roll.

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Government has relaxed rules preventing supermarkets being restocked overnight.

Tesco has restricted sales of some goods, including dried pasta and some tinned vegetables.

As of yesterday it had been confirmed that 10 people now have Covid-19 in Hampshire.

Professor Alessio Ishizaka is an expert in supply chains and is based at the University of Portsmouth.

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The toilet roll aisle at Asda in Fratton on March 10, 2020. Picture: Matthew Mohan-HicksonThe toilet roll aisle at Asda in Fratton on March 10, 2020. Picture: Matthew Mohan-Hickson
The toilet roll aisle at Asda in Fratton on March 10, 2020. Picture: Matthew Mohan-Hickson
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Prof Ishizaka told The News people ‘died because of the virus, not because they didn’t have food’ and added the ‘stockpiling’ was short term.

He said: ‘The issue is that it’s a panic people are going to buy.

‘At the same time this sort of issue means it’s short term. People are not consuming more or maybe they consume more in specialist products like masks or gel for washing hands.

‘For this issue it’s very specific products that everybody suddenly wants to buy.’

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Prof Ishizaka added: ‘People are stockpiling but actually it’s a bit irrational because if you got to a supermarket and everybody is afraid of coronavirus then you have a lot of people at the same time in the supermarket.’

Some smaller shops and retailers online have hiked up the price of hand sanitisers and toilet rolls.

But Prof Ishizaka said big chains ‘will not’ do this. He said: ‘It will be an image (problem) if they increase the price, if they make profit in this situation where they should not make profit.’

Britain has seen its biggest daily increase in confirmed cases, with 456 people diagnosed. Eight patients have died in hospitals.

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Health secretary Matt Hancock addressed the House of Commons last night following the World Health Organisation confirming coronavirus as a ‘pandemic’.

Mr Hancock said: ‘It is clear that we will need legislation to ensure the best possible response. I can tell the house that I have invited the official opposition to meet with me first thing tomorrow to discuss the proposed emergency bill that we will set out before the House next week.

‘In addition to the measures my Right Honourable friend, the Chancellor set out in the budget earlier, the bill will include measures to help in the national effort to keep vital public services running, to support businesses and to help everyone to play their part.’

The NHS has advised people to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their faces to reduce the risk of infection.’