Government reassures on supplies as panic buying hits shelves

THE Government is working with supermarkets to ensure food supplies as the number of people self-isolating with coronavirus is expected to rise, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock sought to reassure the public following panic-buying in some areas, with supermarkets seeing their shelves cleared of essentials such as toilet rolls and paracetamol.

It comes as an older patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Speaking on BBC’s Question Time, Mr Hancock said: “The Government has supplies of the key things that are needed, and, within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there won’t be a problem there.

“And, crucially, we are working to make sure that if people are self isolating, they will be able to get the food and supplies that they need.”

He said there was “absolutely no need” for individual people “to go round buying more than they need.”

He added: “The very, very strong advice from the scientists, from the medics, is that people should not go buying more than they need.”

Downing Street said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had regular meetings with the food industry to discuss risks to the supply chain, with a working group due to meet on Friday.

One supermarket executive told the BBC sales of basics such as pasta and tinned goods had “gone through the roof ”, adding: “While I think people don’t need to panic buy and should just shop normally, I’m not sure the Government can guarantee all food supply in all instances.”

Mr Hancock also told anyone selfisolating with coronavirus to stay away from their own family members as much as possible, and to wipe down shared surfaces, such as in bathrooms.

Retailers have said they are “confident” limited availability of long-life products and hand sanitiser in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak will be short-lived.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) on behalf of supermarkets, said it was “working constructively with Government officials to ensure that supermarkets remain stocked and supply chains continue to function as normal for the foreseeable future”.

She added: “While coronavirus has increased the demand of certain products in the short-term, we are confident that any disruption will remain limited and consumers will continue to be able to choose from a wide selection of foods and other products in stores across the country.”

Meanwhile, 142 people from the UK – including 121 passengers and 21 crew – are among 3,533 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship currently quarantined off California.