People panic buy in response to Coronavirus
by Jalen Beliveau
Customers flocked to grocery stores after rumors of a lockdown spread.
Products, like toilet paper and paper towels, that are not essential to fighting the coronavirus flew off shelves. The uncertainty of the response the nation will take in regards to the virus is causing people to frenzy.
“My parents send me out to go get my grandmother’s groceries,” said 20-year-old Justin Parker. “She’s old and they don’t want her getting sick. They also are having me run errands for them.”
Leslie Buddington, assistant professor of social and developmental psychology at Franklin Pierce University, says she thinks “this stems back to people being afraid.” She then explained the ideas of the well known psychologists, Jeff Greenberg. “He has done a lot of research on what he terms “Terror Management Theory.” He would likely say that the current situation reminds us that we are dying. We are buying the products that we think protect us psychologically from thinking about the reality of this situation and how close we might be to death.” In other words, we are panicking.
“My family bought supplies to make their own hand sanitizer but other than that they are not hoarding food or worrying too much,” said 20-year-old Corinne Mccarthy.
The Walmart in Manchester NH has restricted their store hours and have begun to regulate high-demand products. “Many of our employees have chosen to work hours that require less interaction with the public. They are scared of getting sick too,” said Sherrie, an employee. “We are limiting customers to one-per-person, when they are buying things like sanitizer, face-masks, and toilet paper.” Along with restricted hours, older employees are only allowed to work hours that require little to no interactions with customers.
A town over, employees at Market Basket had their hands full restocking shelves and were unable to locate the manager. “I saw her an hour ago but we are running around with our heads cut off. The groceries are being bought as soon as we restock,” said one employee.
“We have enough food, that isn’t the issue. People are watching the news, getting scared, and rushing the stores,” said the manager at Market Basket.
Hoarding has become an issue and stores are urging people to buy less. Like Walmart, they have started to put limits on certain products.
Psychologist Amanda Spray told Fox News “In the case of a crisis situation, it is human nature to want to prepare to have enough necessities to be prepared to feed and care for our families.” She then addressed the non-stop media coverage of COVID-19, explaining people should watch the news less. Having it on all day is adding to people’s anxiety.
Officials recommend the public quarantine themselves to stop the spread of the virus and be mindful of how much they buy. They say social distancing is the best thing we can do right now.
