Image copyright Getty Images Shoppers in the UK have been told to “be responsible” and think of others such as NHS workers, after panic-buying amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said there is more than enough food to go around – but the challenge for shops is keeping shelves stocked.
It comes as supermarkets have been overwhelmed by increased purchasing.
Meanwhile, cafes, pubs and restaurants across the UK have closed as part of measures to stop the virus spreading.
“Frankly we should all be ashamed,” Stephen Powis, medical director at NHS England, who said panic-buyers are depriving NHS staff of the supplies they need.
“These are the very people that we all need to look after perhaps us or our loved ones in the weeks to come. “
Earlier this week, a critical care nurse made an emotional video appeal for people to stop panic-buying and leave some goods for others who need to stay healthy.
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Media caption Critical care nurse Dawn was driven to despair by the actions of panic-buyers
also speaking at the news conference in Downing Street on Saturday, the head of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson, said: “There is plenty of food in the supply chain.”
“The issue is around people and lorries” getting food onto shelves quick enough, she said.
She said the food industry was experiencing ” a peak in demand “like at Christmas, but” without the four-month build-up period. “
” There is £ 1bn more food in people houses than there was three weeks ago, so we should make sure we eat some of it, “she said.
Mr Eustice said the government recognized it was a “challenging time” but that “buying more than you need means others may be left without.”
He added: “There’s no shortage of food. Food manufacturing has geared up to meet an increase in demand and it is up by 50%. “
Asked whether he can rule out rationing or ration books, Mr Eustice said it was up to supermarkets to decide whether to put limits on how much of each item shoppers can buy.
Some supermarkets have already imposed limits after some members of the public started buying items like toilet roll in bulk.
And many stores including Tesco, Asda, Aldi, and Lidl have said they are hiring thousands of staff to meet the unprecedented demand.
Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket, said it wants to take on , (temporary workers “to help feed the nation”)
Mr Powis, of NHS England, also reiterated the importance of people avoiding social contact.
“It’s not for somebody else to follow, it’s for you to follow, it’s for me to follow, it’s for everybody to follow,” he said.
“This is all our problem and if we do it together, it will be an effective strategy. If you do it, you follow the advice, you will be saving somebody’s life.
“This is the time in your lifetime whereby your action can save somebody’s life. It is as simple and as stark as that. “
In other developments:
Trade unions and a former minister have called for financial help for self-employed workers in the UK. It comes after the government promised to pay 80% of salaries of staff kept on by employers
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