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Residents start stocking up on supplies
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Posted on Mar 18 2020
Island residents have formed a beeline toward supermarkets and stores the past couple of days as they try to stock up on essential supplies and necessities following a report last Sunday that Guam has three residents who tested positive for COVID-19.
A source from a large supermarket on Saipan, who agreed to talk under anonymity, stated that in a meeting they recently had, they have run out of paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizers, and cleaning products in general.
He added that if people are interested, the store he is working at still has frozen foods and other food stuff that are available since that’s what’s worth stocking up on.
A community member, who agreed to talk under anonymity, is concerned about the older people and those who have weak immune systems. She added that there’s no need to buy in bulk, especially with toilet paper, cleaning wipes, and hand sanitizers.
“It isn’t needed, and in order to prevent the virus from spreading, we need to buy what’s enough for our family and leave some for other people who really do need it,” she said. In addition, she stated that we are a small island with limited resources, and people should think twice about buying more than what is enough.
In addition, a leading water company on Saipan is no longer doing any deliveries at this time.
In a press conference last March 11, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, commented on this situation and said that there won’t be any shortage of food and other non-food items as all shipments will be shipped as scheduled.
“The shipments continue to come in, maybe not in the same way as last year, but shipments do come in,” he said.
Although Torres does not agree or disagree with buying products in bulk, he asked shoppers, however, to remember to leave some for other people who also need it.
Residents line up at a local store with boatloads of grocery items following a report last Sunday that Guam already has three positive COVID-19 cases. (Contributed Photo)
