© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
President Donald Trump on Sunday spoke with "more than two dozen" grocery store and supply chain executives and thanked them for their work as people flock to stores to stockpile on supplies over fears surrounding the spread of coronavirus.
Delivering his daily update on the coronavirus situation, Trump suggested Americans "just take it easy, just relax," adding that the empty shelves all over the country are the result of "people buying anywhere three to five times of what they would normally buy."
There is no need for anyone in the country to hoard essential food supplies. Just go and buy, enjoy it, have a nice dinner, relax, because there's plenty of it
Comment: This is good advice from Trump. Now if they just told the media to chill out and stop spreading hysteria they'd be on the right track.
Though the White House said it is unnecessary for Americans to hoard daily supplies, the president told the store executives that stocked shelves with needed items will help Americans feel "safe and calm."
Keeping shelves stocked and meeting the public's demand has become an increasingly difficult task for supply chain stores, though. Major grocery stores like Kroger and Publix announced on Sunday that they are changing their store hours to better meet demand.
"Publix will continue to focus on keeping our associates healthy - and our stores open and stocked - to serve and support all our communities," Todd Jones, Publix CEO, said in a statement regarding the chain closing earlier in order to properly clean and stock.
Videos from US stores in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak show the effects panic buying is having on both consumers and workers.
Some videos show customers taking supplies like paper towels straight off of pallets before they are even stocked.
Others show lines of people ready with their carts waiting outside before stores even open.
Many are dealing with empty shelves when they arrive.
While the panic buying is in direct response to the coronavirus, it is in opposition to the 'social distancing' politicians have been promoting through Twitter. Putting yourself in a horde of people to get supplies likely increases your risk of being exposed to the virus, especially since grocery store employees are now coming into contact with more and more people.
Kroger even confirmed on Sunday that two employees — one at a King Soopers store in Colorado and one at a Fred Meyer's store in Washington state - have tested positive for coronavirus. The chain said they worked with state governments and health officials to properly sanitize those locations.
Ah, they're just covering their arses.