BUG PANIC FORCES STORE RATIONING

Stockpiling ban after fights over toilet rolls

SUPERMARKETS have started rationing essential items to stop selfish shoppers panic-buying.

People have been busy emptying aisles of items such as toilet paper and pasta over coronavirus fears.

Tesco is limiting sales of antibacterial gels and sprays, dry pasta, long-life milk and tinned veg.

And Waitrose, Asda and Ocado imposed limits on items including loo roll and Calpol medicine.

The clampdown comes after chaotic scenes where people were seen wheeling trolleys piled high with toilet paper to checkouts.

Dr Andrew Potter of the Cardiff Business School said: “Whilst there might be empty shelves at the moment over the next week or so we will see them replenish.

“The supply chain will start to deliver through to the stores and hopefully this shortage – which is fairly short-term – will clear and everything will be back to normal.”

Tests for the virus could also be rationed and younger people who show symptoms could be told to just self-isolate.

Environment Secretary George Eustice is due to talk to food industry officials today to ensure vulnerable and isolated people can buy vital supplies.

And Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We’ve had no advice from the scientific advisers or medical officers that there’s any need for people to buy stuff in.”

The Foreign Office last night changed its travel guidelines to northern Italy, advising against all but essential travel. The number of deaths in the country shot up from 233 to 366 yesterday.