Sales of pregnancy tests soar in Belgium

SALES of pregnancy tests in Belgium have soared by about a quarter since the beginning of the country’s coronavirus lockdown on March 18.

There are hopes of a “corona baby boom” in Belgium, after pharmacists and supermarkets reported the 25 per cent surge yesterday.

“We were not surprised at the requests for vitamins, masks and hydroalcoholic gel,” one pharmacist told Le Soir newspaper, “but we didn’t expect

the pregnancy tests.” The Office of Co-operative Pharmacies in Belgium, which represents nearly 600 chemists, confirmed the increase was around 25 per cent.

“We have indeed seen a kind of boom in sales of this product,” said Anne Santi, of the group. “It is difficult to interpret, as purchasing behaviour has been disrupted by Covid-19 and the lockdown.”

“Sales of pregnancy tests have increased in recent weeks,” said a spokesman for the Carrefour supermarket group.

The tests are in the top 10 of consumer goods to see big rises in sales since the pandemic hit Belgium. They soared alongside sugar, yeast, flour and lavatory paper. Pharmacies and supermarkets stayed open through the lockdown.

Expectations of an explosion in Belgium’s 11.5 million population should be managed, some experts warned.

Doctors said that stress and lack of sleep, which could be caused by lockdown, can delay the menstrual cycle. Women may have bought a test after missing their usual period.

Gynaecologists also limited their consultations to emergencies and pregnancy monitoring during lockdown.

According to the Nielsen retail analyst, sales of pregnancy tests increased by 37 per cent in France between April 13 and 19.