As a result of fears over contracting the Coronavirus, people have resorted to stocking up on toilet paper among other items. After President Trump's address to the nation last night about implementing a travel ban, numerous sports leagues postponing or cancelling events, and the news of actor Tom Hanks testing positive for COVID-19, people got scared and have taken to the grocery stores in drives! Many shoppers find themselves going to get toilet paper only to find an empty shelf. Why stock up on toilet paper? People are afraid they won't be able to leave their homes because of this (presumably) widespread virus and they feel they need to do something about it to prepare. Okay, yes it's good to be prepared but the truth is the majority of our toilet paper is made here in this country, in fact we import less than 10% of toilet paper to this country and at that it comes from Mexico and Canada. The point with that is, the likelyihood of toilet paper production stopping or being haulted in this country over Coronavirus sickness is slim to none. Now if we got our toilet paper from China, then yes that would be more concerning and I could see why people would want to stock up. Otherwise, this hoarding of toilet paper is a result of people wanting to feel secure and do something to accomplish that during a time of widespread panic.
Now if you are elderly or have reason to believe you might be exposed to Coronavirus in the near future, it's okay to have an a good couple rolls incase you're quarantined for two weeks but that doesn't mean buy in bulk! I think people need to calm down and buy responsonsibly because the unnnecessary over buying of toilet paper limits others chance of even having toilet paper, period.
^^^ *Be warned of some fowl language in the video*
-Producer Lightning