Locals stock up essentials in coronavirus panic
With the increasing numbers of cases in Thailand and the first death from the COVID-19 virus, Thai people are now worried about the condition and don’t want to go out that much.
This has caused locals to stock up on essential items such as dried and frozen food, leading to empty shelves in supermarkets across the country.
Stocking up essential items
Image credit: Dailynews
Thais have been wearing masks in public even before the spread of COVID-19 due to problems such as air pollution. After the outbreak, people were more active in taking care of their health which even caused the price of face masks to increase due to a sudden rise in demand.
Image credit: Business Today
On 3rd March 2020, Dailynews reported that some shopping malls and supermarkets in Bangkok, like Big C Ratchadamri, have shelves emptied because of people stocking up supplies in order to prepare for staying indoors amid anxieties surrounding the virus.
Staff at the department store said that customers buy a lot of dried food, instant noodles, tinned food, frozen food in excessive amounts
Image credit: Dailynews
Aside from that, different supermarkets and shopping malls like Tesco Lotus and Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon also provide information that customers also bought lots of hand soap, sanitizing products, and tissues too.
Prepare for the virus, but don’t panic
To be active and staying up to date with the news for the latest information about the virus is good, but too much panic and stocking up items based on fear can only lead to further problems.
Organisations and public spaces are working on the situation by tightening cleaning standards, screening travellers, and sharing necessary information related to the virus for people to prepare and protect themselves.
So, follow the proper methods to take care of yourself and others.
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