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SUPERMARKETS HAVE warned shoppers not to “panic buy” following the Government announcement earlier today, as photos and videos emerge on social media showing empty shelves and long checkout queues.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that schools, creches, and universities are closed until 29 March and all indoor gathering of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of 500 people are to be cancelled.
Many workers will be forced to either work from home, or to take unexpected leave from work.
In the aftermath of this announcement, consumers have begun swarming supermarkets and bulkbuying goods, raising concerns over whether supermarkets can continue to meet the unexpected demands in their supply chains.
Photos on social media show dozens of people queuing at individual checkouts and lines of empty shelves in supermarkets across the country.
Joni McKenna / Twitter
Joni McKenna / Twitter / Twitter
Musgraves, the group behind SuperValu and Centra, said it was trying to keep the supply chain going so there would be no food shortages but warned consumers not to bulk-buy and to “remain calm”.
“We are experiencing high volumes of demand but our advice to the public is that there is no need for panic buying,” a statement from the group CEO Noel Keeley said.
“Panic buying is an inconvenience to other customers, so we would reiterate the call to remain calm. We continue to work to maximise availability and are working with suppliers to keep products flowing through the system.”
Keeley added: “We continue to work to maximise availability and are working with suppliers to keep products flowing through the system.”
“I would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of every member of Musgrave team, our retail partners and their team who are going above and beyond for our customers. We would also like to thank the general public for their patience during this time.”
A statement from Retail Excellence also reiterated the same sentiments, warning customer that there are no issue in the supply chain at present.
Cafes, restaurants and bars will remain open over the coming weeks but the Government has asked members of the public to restrict movements, and for establishment owners to take necessary precautions.
Graeme McQueen, Head of Communications at Dublin Chamber is encouraging the public not to bulk-buy and continue shopping as normal.
“We’d encourage people to keep calm when it comes to grocery shopping. This is a public health issue, not a supply chain issue,” he said.
“The stock-piling of food is not necessary. Shops are staying open and stocks will continue to be replenished over the coming days and weeks. The majority of cafes and restaurants will also remain open.
“Our advice would be for people to shop for food as they normally would. This will ensure there is plenty to go round.”
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After working a 21 hour shift in the laboratory of HSE hospital. Sending samples out for coronavirus, running an oncall service and trying to help out as best I can. I’m wrecked now. Kids are running around. Wont get to do my shopping until tomorrow. Might not be anything left with all the hysteria and greed going around the place.
Can people think of the elderly and if they need anything in the shops? They might be afraid to go outside the door.
@TheITGuy: Nothing brings out the blinkered me mentality more than a health crisis.
@TheITGuy: there was no fear in the huge numbers of elderly people I saw today literally clearing the shelves in supervalu ensuring nothing was left for people like you who only finish work now!
@TheITGuy:
Well I live in Castleknock and there is a late opening Tesco not too far away.
If I can help at all just reply and we can arrange contact.
I am not punting for business or looking for any reward.
@Justice Mickey: I will head into town in the morn. Thanks for the offer.
@TheITGuy:
Any time at all , if I can help at all I will be happy to assist.
I can get in touch over Twitter.
Consider it a very sincere Thank you for your work.
@TheITGuy: Fair play to you and the job you are doing. Could you try Tesco online to ease some pressure?
And yet…people will continue to panic buy
@Sean Collins: People are D.icks
@Sean Collins: only in certain supermarkets!!
@Brendan Cooney: walked into Centra in Malahide and bought grub for the next 3 days. No empty shelves nor queues!
@Sean Collins: cant blame people panic buying given the mistrust of the government. I for one won’t trust for a second the info our goverment are releasing.
@Paul Furey: that’s because a 3 day shop In Centra would cost the same as a months shopping in Lidl pal
@Paul Furey: lucky man.saw someone buy 600 euro worth of groceries. Empty shelves in alot of shops.saw one man with a trolley full of toilet roll.what about everyone else,people dont give a shit .
@Michael Connick: You for one are part of the problem then, me Fein.
@troy holland: Exactly, saw a guy buy 20 steaks. Selfish. There is no need but panic buying itself will create a problem with supply if it continues where there wasnt one to begin with
@Sean Collins: The information today is that there is no need to panic buy, because there are no issues with the supply chain. But in the event of impending issues with the supply chain, that is exactly what they would say to prevent general panic and civil unrest etc.
Hopefully it will not be the case, but if the rest of mainland Europe does as the Italian authorities did and locks down the rest of Europe too, where will that leave food supply chains to Ireland in the list of immediate priorities?
Last minute panic buying really isn’t a great idea, being generally prepared for possible unforseen circumstances with a bit of planning is a lot better, but when you haven’t done that, because you thought it was all just a ridiculous waste of time…panic buying is all people have left…
@Karen Doyle: yes no need for it.nothing for everyone else.some people dont give a shit about anyone .
@troy holland: I saw a woman head off with a trolley of 8 bales of toilet rolls this morning. I was told to fcuk off when I asked her had she dysentery?
@Brendan Cooney: it’s only happening in the cheap shops like aldi or tesco. I shop in centra, no panic in there at all.
There is only one commodity that is in very short supply right now, common sense.
Save time & shop online. Even if you have to self isolate you can still shop online, so absolutely no need whatsoever for panic buying. It’s selfish, reckless and completely unnecessary. Italy is in complete lockdown, but pharmacy’s and supermarkets are still open, still stocked and still delivering. If anything sheep mentality of what is essentially raiding supermarkets, will increase your risk of contracting CoVid 19, or any other transmissible infections or virus when you pack yourself into a shop with hundreds of others in close proximity. I really do wonder about the human race sometimes.
@John Quinn: I do too. No sense of community in these people.
@John Quinn: exactly
@John Quinn: I tried to do my normal shop online today but nearest delivery date was the 18th . Can’t wait that long so off to shops I go .
I did my weekly shop today. Sat back for a minute or two and watched people’s behaviour. Blindly buying multiples of anything they could put their hands on and pushing in on others to get it too. It’s not the bubonic plague we’re dealing with at all. Made me think we’ve become a horrible society in so many ways. Sad really.
@Ross O’Donnell: I witnessed the chaos and carnage in Tesco Clarehall this afternoon and it absolutely shocked me to my core and I’ve seen some horrific things in my lifetime… Such a shame!
FFS people, calm down and be kind. Ive got hand sanitiser and thats all I need going out and about. Shops will stay open, and if it goes t1ts up, delivered to peoples doors with extra anti bac wipes.
@Finn Faulkner: theres no hand sanitizer in shops for days,I made up my own with advice from a chemist.
@Finn Faulkner: I had my eggs stolen out of my trolley in ALDI this morning..seriously..went back back to get more..gone !
@CJ Stewart: Now that right there is crime
@troy holland: I ordered some from an online beauty shop. The lens curlers looked tempting, as did the clip on nails….
@Finn Faulkner: lol you numpty.
@troy holland: What was the advice?
Shame on everyone who is panic buying. I went to 3 supermarkets looking for something for my dinner and every one of them was sold out of chicken, beef, pasta, veg etc.. you name it…I now have to resort to a takeaway that as a disabled person on social welfare I can ill afford. Please think of others and others like me.
@Brian Burke: sorry to hear that Brian,yes some people not all dont give a shit about anyone else,when they are buying they dont give a thought about anyone in your shoes.its sad to see.hope you get a few things in the next few days.
@troy holland: thanks Troy. Things like these are very stressful for people like me (as it could potentially wipe me out) without the extra worry about food etc.. hopefully it passes quickly but listening to the experts that is very doubtful. Stay safe and take care around others
@Brian Burke: All the support groups are giving great advice on what to do. My own support group has been on to me from the start of it all.
Honestly do you really need 63 rolls of toilet paper like!?
@ObsidianShine: I’m just going to use my dog if I run out.
@ObsidianShine: theres now a rush on laxatives so the panickers can at least get to use some of their hoarded bog roll.
@ObsidianShine: The funny thing is that people will be at home anyway so they can just wash their arse in the shower. This is normal is a lot of non-Western countries anyway!
@Richie Kennedy: Exactly.
@ObsidianShine: They plan to eat it.
@Richie Kennedy: But what will I use to wipe down the walls?
Judging by the queues I saw in shops I’d say the only way is for retail units to ration an x amount per clients . Madness and selfishness took over .
@Isabel Oliveira: Do it like a meal deal. 1 mains, 1 side , 1 dessert
No toilet roll in Tesco,no hand sanitizer for days,no pasta rice, now no frozen food,saw someone with 600 euro worth of groceries today and another man with a trolley full of toilet roll and was going in for another one in aldi.ffs what’s the country coming too.everyone else then cant get alot of their shopping over all this panic.theres no need for this as shops keep getting restocked with groceries. The man that bought a trolley full of toilet roll calm down man dont forget everyone else you …..
What’s the obsession with toilet paper??
@Humphrey: one person coughs 100 people shit themselves
@Humphrey: it was a Cheltenham tip going around a few months ago , Put all your money on Tiger Roll , Chinese whispers changed it to …Use all your money on Toilet Roll .. and now we have this craziness !! :D
Supervalue Greystones sold out of sliced pan, but plenty of unsliced granary loaves. As for the loo roll…. maybe this will be good news for print media? (over 60s will know what I mean Lol.)
Short term ban on consumers bulk buying.
Why aren’t shopping markets restrictions the amount of supplies per customer like in other countries some shops for example allow to buy 5 toilet paper max per customer. I’m afraid the panic buying will continue and some people will have too much things as some will have nothing.
They had to close Tesco in Carlow earlier because of the bedlam.
@Shane McGrath: I wouldn’t have put with either.
Awful lot of gobshytes in the supermarkets today going on like it’s Dawn of the Dead.
@Raven: it is……. I tried to get shot gun cartridges today and I couldn’t get them for love nor money !
Jaysus we are a nation of morons. I think of the people in the 3rd world who survive on nothing but grain. The amount of food waste in 2 weeks time will be sickening. Do they not know the supply chain is not broken and shelf’s will be replenished as normal tomorrow. Also these people are not doing a good job in terms of creating large gatherings. Lastly they must have serious toilet issues.
@Seagoat returns: yeah did you not know they are all shitting themselves.
@Seagoat returns: this is true… shops should limit numbers in the shops, and limit the quantities bought.. enough for a normal week.
No concern about the expert advice re crowded areas,so much for social spacing!
No concern about carers of vulnerable people/vulnerable people who can’t leave home to shop depending on relatives or friends to do their shopping.
So think before you shop,get your usual weeks shopping and think of the most vulnerable please!
No queuing in the supermarkets next week. They will be totally empty………….except for the zombies!
@John C: i hope there’s zombies lad. With the way my week is going I’d welcome beating something to death with zero consequences.
Anyone would think that it was going to snow and that all roads would be impassable. The retail trade were expecting Brexit and they got the Virus instead so they are well stocked up.
Id iots you were told to stay at home
Media should Stop feeding any Panic
@Eamonn Tierney: Its social media not MSM, they are reporting the facts. Our media have done a good job of it. Especially when you see Fox and some of the British red tops
Really is the I’m all right Jack, fu¢k the lot of yis mentality, this society if you can call it that, is fu¢ked!
Tesco doubled the price of the toilet tissue disgusting!
@Charliegrl80: dunnes did aswell on their own brands.
@Charliegrl80: That’s how you reduce demand.
Anyone who cannot get to the supermarket order some for delivery. I’m showing some symptoms so we are isolating ourselves.
Earlier this evening I saw a massive truck pull up to the local Super Valu and another one at the nearby Lidl. There’s no problem with supply, people need to take a step back and think rationally.
Selfish muppets
Those children in the picture look inbread.
These idiots making it tough for the rest of us
Shopped in Dunnes today. Long queues at the tills, but everyone in good form and polite to each other. Where the hell are these lunatics fighting in supermarkets? The ethical society has laid down and died.
there’s no cure for stupid anyway!!
I went to Tesco in Dun Laoghaire today. Not 1 potato, not one loo roll, hardly any bread. Why are people so STUPID?????
Some people are total idiots. All these fools are doing is making the situation worse by gathering on mass in an area and so potentially spreading the virus. Nice to know that they are thinking only of themselves and not the rest of the older community who may have to get some essentials from the supermarket only to find that these morons have bought up everything.
People who are panic buying tells me that they are mostly those who are better off. People on low incomes do not have the money to buy a months groceries in advance. Shame on those who are Selfishly panic buying . If this continues the Government should consider introducing compulsory rationing by supermarkets. All people were asked to do was a normal shop. During our last big snow that only lasted a few days I saw a woman pile every sliced pan in sight into her trolly and as soon as the fresh brown bread was placed on display it vanished. Madness. So much for solidarity.
People are sheep. Moronic sheep. Baaaaa
The pictures of empty supermarket shelves really encourages me not to panic buy.
I D I O T S !!!!
Can someone please tell me who this Bailey fella is and why it’s so newsworthy than he was caught driving after smoking a J. Better than driving after a couple of J D’s I would have thought
It’s not fkn blizzard. Things wont run out. Feckin eejits.
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