PHOENIX — Drugstores, major retailers and hardware stores are all saying the same. They can't keep face masks in stock because of the coronavirus. "Right now I've got four back orders out there,” says Wayne Brown from an Ace Hardware location in Phoenix.
Evidently, people are stocking up on preventative supplies amid fears of the spread of the coronavirus.
Currently, shelves at a CVS near 44th Street and McDowell Road are barren. Signs warned customers of limited quantities.
A store employee said more, if any, would be in stock Thursday.
Down the street, both face masks and hand sanitizer were sold out at Costco. Only gloves were left in stock.
Multiple locations around the Valley reported the same.
But, are a stockpile of preventative supplies necessary to avoid the coronavirus? Centers for Disease Control says some of the best practices are free. They recommend washing your hands with soap for 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, stay home if you are sick and commit to regular cleaning.
"At the start of your day, you want to wipe down your keyboard and phone. At the beginning of the day, that's a good measure,” says Dr. Eric Cio-Pena, Director of Global Health at Northwell Health.
The CDC also says masks won't necessarily help. They recommend wearing one only if you are sick or taking care of someone else who is sick.
The biggest recommendation is to take the same precautions you would during cold or flu season.
