As the number of coronarvirus cases continues to rise panic buying in stores reaches unprecedented levels.
Many have hit out at “selfish shoppers” on social media, with many vulnerable people left without supplies and having to be out for longer among other possibly infected people trying to find the essentials they need.
The elderly are in the high-risk group and in the UK health chiefs have said that all those over 70 years old may have to stay home for an extended period to self isolate.
For those elderly people who don’t have others to shop for them one supermarket has come up with an ingenious way of allowing them to shop without having to fight everyone else for supplies.
Iceland, in Northern Ireland, will be opening its doors for an hour exclusively for elderly people to shop.
The supermarket chain in West Belfast, announced it would let older customers inside from 8-9 a.m. starting Tuesday.
Elderly people only
“Iceland Foods will be opening their store between 8-9am for the elderly commencing Tuesday 17th March,” a statement said, according to Metro News.
“Could the wider public please respect this hour, and understand that this time is allocated for elderly people only.
“Iceland appeals to people’s better nature when realizing who needs priority.”
The UK Health Secretary has already warned people could face rationing if they don’t stop panic buying. Items that are in short supply include toilet paper, pain killers, pasta and rice.
Underlying health conditions
“If you are buying food for instance and loo roll you buy what you need, because there’s an impact on others,” UK Healthy Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC, as per Metro News.
There have been 1,140 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK as of the morning of March 14.
Most of the 35 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK have so far been people aged over 60 and with underlying health conditions.
Please share to remind others there is plenty of supplies to go around if we all shop sensibly. We have to think about the vulnerable members of our community.
