Spike in demand for hand sanitisers in pharmacies
CONCERN about the risk of coronavirus has seen a rise in demand for hand sanitiser and other products at pharmacies around the country.
Many pharmacies contacted by this paper reported a surge in the number of shoppers looking for hand sanitisers, face masks and other anti-bacterial products.
Each highlighted the HSE and WHO advice about proper hand-washing to halt the spread of the virus and to contact the GP by telephone.
Laura Armstrong of Armstrong Life Pharmacy in Arklow said there had been ‘a bit of a rush’ on Friday morning with customers looking for hand sanitizers and face masks.
She stated that good hand washing technique is important to stop the spread of the virus, adding ‘it won’t affect everyone badly, but the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk’.
There had also been huge demand for face masks and sanitisers in First Choice Pharmacy in the Tesco Shopping Centre, Wexford Road with many people coming in to look for these products.
Patrick Whelan of Whelan’s Pharmacy, Dunlavin said they had received ‘dozens of requests for hand sanitisers’ from customers. He is hoping to get more in, but suppliers can’t guarantee deliveries. Customers have also been looking for face masks and alcohol gel wash, both of which are not currently available.
Meanwhile, staff at Adrian Dunne Pharmacy in Arklow had a queue of customers queuing outside the door on Friday morning before the store had opened. Such was the demand for hand sanitiser, hand wipes and alcohol wash, that the products sold out within an hour of the store opening, a staff member told this paper.
Tierney’s Pharmacy in Rathdrum has responded to requests for hand sanitizer by making up their own.
‘We made up 35 bottles on Friday morning and they were gone by lunchtime,’ said Michael Tierney, ‘we’ve been advising people to use a little application several times a day after hand washing.’