Coronavirus Related Shortages in Shops

[Dingo]

An odd one, my wife works at an adult store here in Aus. She's been having people asking for sex toy cleaner to use in lieu of hand sanitizer, since they have been unable to buy it.

For the record from what I can tell toy cleaners aren't alcohol based and won't function like sanitizer, they're effectively soap that's internal safe and gentle on silicon. Better than nothing but equivalent to washing your hands with soapy water.

 

[Mick West]

I just noticed this note on the receipt for my last shop, from Forklift.

It makes sense, in terms of preventing spread of infection. But also dissuades impulsive bulk purchases

Costco also had a sign saying no returns, but just on items people were buying in excessive bulk, like toilet paper.

 

[M Bornong]

Bakersfield California, wife and I ventured to the grocery store for the first time since the panic buying began, we had heard that dairy and produce were more available and we've been out of those for a few days. Everything was limited to 1 item per customer, we didn't get what we wanted, but will manage on the perishables we were able to get for another week or so, and still good on non-perishables, for several weeks.

I talked to a friend on the other side of town this morning, his daughter tried to get milk, eggs, and a bag of potatoes, she struck out after 3 stores.

Paper, rice, beans, pasta completely empty, cans thin. One of the employees was on the paper aisle ordering, he said he goes through the motions everyday to restock the entire section. The distribution center can still only ship at about the same rate as the pre-panic buying days, so they get enough to fill about 1/4 of the space every morning, people are still lining up before the store opens and clear the shelves in the first hour or 2 even with their limiting to one item per customer and limiting number of people in the store at any one time. I've heard our big box stores are about the same

 

[Agent K]

Q: What's better, newspapers or television?
A: Newspapers. You can't wipe your ass with a TV.

Q: What food is good for quarantine?
A: Matzo
Q: Because it has a long shelf life?
A: It can be slipped under the door.

Q: What should I eat during the pandemic?
A: Lots of garlic.
Q: To boost the immune system?
A: No, to keep others six feet away from you.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work if everyone does it.

 

[derwoodii]

things seem to be returning to normal down under well least my local shopping center

 

[qed]

South Africa has banned the sale of alcohol and cigarettes for the three week shutdown!

Alcohol I get, but cigarettes feels like liberal mischief.

 

[Mick West]

South Africa has banned the sale of alcohol and cigarettes for the three week shutdown!

Alcohol I get, but cigarettes feels like liberal mischief.

Seems like the reasoning is that it's not an essential good, so trips to buy cigarettes are not essential.
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-af...es-prohibited-during-21-day-lockdown-45566024

"On the items that people can buy, obviously we wanted to keep the list as short and simple as possible so that we can do a quick turn around at shops so that people spend the minimum amount of time there, and travel as infrequently to the shops as possible. Cigarettes is not a basic good."

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It might backfire, as smokers usually have some degree of physical addiction that makes it very hard to just stop - so they are going to be seeking cigarettes anyway, and might spend longer out trying to find them.

It's like a giant experiment.

 

[qed]

I have six days of cigarettes left, and 16 days of shutdown to go.

 

[Mick West]

I have six days of cigarettes left, and 16 days of shutdown to go.

So are you going to go cold turkey for ten days (possibly more, as lockdowns get extended) or spread them out?

 

[qed]

I have got an old vape up and working and found vape juice at a store. The cigarettes had all been removed but the juice flies under the law. So I am vaping. Bought a lot of juice. Coffee is still counted as an essential, thank goodness.

 

[deirdre]

South Africa has banned the sale of alcohol and cigarettes for the three week shutdown!

Alcohol I get, but cigarettes feels like liberal mischief.

that's messed up. so youll have a bunch of criminal types with the DTs breaking into homes to steal liquor and cigs. nice. (people with DTs will probably also end up at the hospital)

 

[Mendel]

Alcohol I get, but cigarettes feels like liberal mischief.

Yep. All those liberal doctors, telling you smoking impairs your lungs. It's a conspiracy! And the evil WHO is in on it! I expect that the medical advisors are aware that banning smoking has a positive effect on the health issues that could impact a patient's ability to cope with Covid-19.

WHO FAQ:

Are smokers and tobacco users at higher risk of COVID-19 infection?
Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.
Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings.
Conditions that increase oxygen needs or reduce the ability of the body to use it properly will put patients at higher risk of serious lung conditions such as pneumonia.

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From a more in-depth summary (WHO again):

What are the possible relations between tobacco use and the COVID19 epidemic?
Any kind of tobacco smoking is harmful to the bodily systems, including the cardiovascular and respiratory systems [1] [2]. COVID-19 can also harm these systems. Information from China, where COVID-19 originated, shows that people who have cardiovascular and respiratory conditions caused by tobacco use, or otherwise, are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms [3]. [...]

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Now you may think, but will I benefit from quitting smoking before I get infected? Sure you will!

The benefits are almost instant. As soon as a person stops smoking their body begins to recover in the following ways:

After 1 hour
In as little as 20 minutes after the last cigarette is smoked, the heart rate drops and returns to normal. Blood pressure begins to drop, and circulation may start to improve.

After 12 hours
Cigarettes contain a lot of known toxins including carbon monoxide, a gas present in cigarette smoke.

This gas can be harmful or fatal in high doses and prevents oxygen from entering the lungs and blood. When inhaled in large doses in a short time, suffocation can occur from lack of oxygen.

After just 12 hours without a cigarette, the body cleanses itself of the excess carbon monoxide from the cigarettes. The carbon monoxide level returns to normal, increasing the body’s oxygen levels.

After 1 day
Just 1 day after quitting smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to decrease.

Smoking raises the risk of developing coronary heart disease by lowering good cholesterol, which makes heart-healthy exercise harder to do. Smoking also raises blood pressure and increases blood clots, increasing the risk of stroke.

In as little as 1 day after quitting smoking, a person’s blood pressure begins to drop, decreasing the risk of heart disease from smoking-induced high blood pressure. In this short time, a person’s oxygen levels will have risen, making physical activity and exercise easier to do, promoting heart-healthy habits.

After 2 days
Smoking damages the nerve endings responsible for the senses of smell and taste. In as little as 2 days after quitting, a person may notice a heightened sense of smell and more vivid tastes as these nerves heal.

After 3 days
3 days after quitting smoking, the nicotine levels in a person’s body are depleted. While it is healthier to have no nicotine in the body, this initial depletion can cause nicotine withdrawal. Around 3 days after quitting, most people will experience moodiness and irritability, severe headaches, and cravings as the body readjusts.

After 1 month
In as little as 1 month, a person’s lung function begins to improve. As the lungs heal and lung capacity improves, former smokers may notice less coughing and shortness of breath. Athletic endurance increases and former smokers may notice a renewed ability for cardiovascular activities, such as running and jumping.

After 1-3 months
For the next several months after quitting, circulation continues to improve.

[...]

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In short, Coronavirus attacks the heart and the lungs; smoking impairs the heart and the lungs; but if you quit smoking, you can see improvements in days, weeks and months that should improve your ability to cope with this infection.

 

[derwoodii]

firearm & ammo purchase have been temporarily banned in Victoria Australia due to spike in permit & ownership applications.. This ban seems to be now across Australia states in varying degrees spuring the typical for and against arguments.. But as going out to shop to buy a gun is not on the allowed stage 3 restricted movement list its a mute point..


Victoria bans guns after permit applications more than double amid COVID-19 pandemic

https://www.9news.com.au/national/v...pandemic/c79be725-280d-4173-b761-e364d4544433

Firearm purchases have been temporarily banned in Victoria after a surge in demand amid the coronavirus pandemic saw permit applications more than double.
Police Minister Lisa Neville today declared the sale of firearms and ammunition for sporting or recreational purposes would be paused, following deliberations by the National Cabinet.
Ms Neville said there had been a substantial increase in firearms permits to acquire applications and additional ammunition during the health crisis

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[deirdre]

Yep. All those liberal doctors, telling you smoking impairs your lungs. It's a conspiracy! And the evil WHO is in on it! I expect that the medical advisors are aware that banning smoking has a positive effect on the health issues that could impact a patient's ability to cope with Covid-19.

In America, we call that the Nanny State. (ie. liberals). just saying.

 

[Graham2001]

Local shops are implementing purchase limits of two items per customer in certain foods, but it's still virtually impossible to get toilet paper unless you get to the store as close to opening as possible.

 

[derwoodii]

Local shops are implementing purchase limits of two items per customer in certain foods, but it's still virtually impossible to get toilet paper unless you get to the store as close to opening as possible.

sorry chap where about are you ??

Things returning to near normal in OZ a few shelves thin of things, but my veggie patches & seed bank has been prepper renovated by dear SWMBO.. Heck stay at home rules say i cant even go fishing so got the .22 out to stalk some bunnies but dearly hope it dont need go that far they taste yuk..

This whole episode down under has been very mild in word comparison thankfully due to island country border control and generally good public behavior, i think we are hovering about 40 plus dead and 5000 infected this will rise but talk is we seem to have plateaued