‘Italians are not hoarding goods’

A woman from Kent living in Italy is urging people to “think twice” about hoarding by sharing photos of full shelves despite “extreme lockdown” in the country. Victoria Heward, from Faversham, lives in Genoa and says despite Italy being the European epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, residents are not panic buying.

She has shared images of shelves packed out with pasta and toilet paper in her local supermarket in the hope of encouraging people in the UK to stop hoarding. “Genoa is on the Italian Riviera in the north of Italy; it’s not Lombardy, but it’s still a war zone and has been in extreme lockdown for the past few weeks,” Mrs Heward said.

“We’re only allowed outside to get shopping or medical assistance, so a trip to the supermarket is not only vital to get supplies, but also the only breath of fresh air many people have - and to some feels almost like a holiday.” Mrs Heward says shops form an “orderly queue” outside the supermarket to respect social distancing advice, with many people wearing masks. “[There is] nobody complaining about the wait to get in, nobody trying to jump the queue, which in itself is miraculous if you bear in mind that queuing is not something that Italians are very comfortable with,” she added.

“And, and this is the important part, inside the shelves are full. There is no shortage.

“The only product which is slightly lacking is disinfectant and hand soap. “I’m sharing these photos hoping that as many of my fellow Brits will see them and think twice about hoarding. “Italians eat much more pasta than you do, and yet the shelves are still full. They poo as much as you do too yet feel no need to hoard toilet paper.

“There is no food shortage. There is enough loo paper for everyone. If they can do it in Italy, so can you.”

Shelves are well stocked in some Italian shops