How to Deal with Covid 19 Product Problems and Attitudes

I am not well due to a brain tumor that I am being treated for at the moment. Because of this, and the fact that I fit the profile of someone who could easily catch and succumb to Covid 19, I must be extremely careful.

I have been carefully watching what is happening in the stores, and have become increasingly concerned about the way the majority if not all of them are handling the stocking and selling of important products that people like me and others really do need.

For example, I need alcohol. I’m almost out of it. Because of this, my husband has been forced to go out almost every day to search for it. I’ve also looked online for it. It has been impossible to find!

I’ve spoken with friends and relatives who live in other sections of the US. They are mostly having the same problem. Alcohol. Lysol Disinfectant Spray, Hand Sanitizer, Masks, paper towels, and toilet paper have all but disappeared from store shelves.

We are told to use these items to protect ourselves from Covid 19, but if you cannot get your hands on them, how are you to do this?

This can be a matter of life and death, and it is up to manufacturers and sellers to address this problem if we are to lower the illness and death of our fellow Americans.

There are a number of reasons that are causing these issues, all of which can be addressed if people would take this disease more seriously and get to work right now.

For example, manufacturers got blind-sided by the cry for products, thus it took them awhile to increase production. However, it’s more than production. They need people who can drive the big trucks, set up the contracts, accept the merchandise, store it, keep it on the shelves and sell it. This all takes time, and there are many pieces to the puzzle. If one piece falters, the whole creation and movement of product falters and shortages occur.

Another problem that could have been easily avoided is hoarding. There are people in this country who either decided to panic buy or try to make a profit on our misfortune.

Had stores immediately set limits on the amount of these goods they would sell to any one person at any one time, many people would have what they need. Instead, stores allowed citizens to rampage through their buildings and completely empty their shelves. Many just stacked them up in their homes, but more increased their prices and sold them online for profit.

So, someone like me who is on medication that causes diarrhea and vomiting often could really be out of luck if my supplies dwindle.

Manufacturers and Sellers finally are beginning to wake up, but they are doing so slowly.

They say they have increased production, but this has yet to be seen on the shelves.

Some, like Walmart, are hiring more truck drivers to move products faster, but it is still difficult to find all one needs on their shelves.

Apologies come often, but there have been few steps taken to help.

One has been to set special hours for senior citizens. These occur in the early morning hours and force people to stand in line which risks their health. Also, it’s difficult for many seniors to rise early due to their health conditions.

Some stores are finally limiting the amount of any item people can purchase, but even with that, by the time someone gets to a store at a later hour, stores mostly have sold out to the early risers. Also, not all stores are even limiting purchases.

Here are some things that can and should be done immediately to put an end to these problems.

Companies need to employ more people in order to speed up production and shipping.

Stores should order enough products to meet citizen demands.

Covid 19 products should be placed at the front of a store and guarded by someone who distributes limited amounts to buyers. This would end hoarding and panic buying also make shopping safer in terms of avoiding transference of the virus. The fewer people who are in the store at any one time, the less the chance of spreading the virus.

Governments should fine people who hoard or price gouge. If it means placing a police officer at the point of sale, then so be it.

Recently there was a video that went viral on Facebook that showed a woman and man leaving a Dollar Tree store as they loaded their truck and trailer with the store’s entire supply of toilet paper! People stood and watched but could do nothing. The store did nothing. The people drove away screaming “Go Trump”.

For someone in my circumstance, this was infuriating to watch. I’m sure it upset others as well. This type of blatant, cruel behavior must be stopped.

I am hearing that some companies and online sites are doing what they can, but with the economy so bad right now, there’s going to be a lot of trouble due to desperation in people.

I hear a lot of talk about how we should all work together and love one another. We should be helping and supporting one another as well. Many are heeding this call, but far too many are not.

People still are ignoring the guidelines, hoarding, overbuying and saying to hell with the old and sick. There is even talk of allowing the old and sick to just die rather than to provide live giving care because the feeling is that ventilators would be better used on young people and those who have a better chance of surviving.

Again, this is a matter of supply and demand. The President has dragged his feet when it comes to ordering and shipping ventilators to those in need because in his mind, the need is being exaggerated. He has failed to check the facts, and as a result, people are dying.

As a 76 year old woman who is at great risk due to current health issues, I am terrified. I know many others are as well. I have to go to the hospital 5 days each week for radiation treatments. I do not have cancer, but those treatments create nasty side effects and weaken me, so I have to be careful.

To those who are not taking Covid 19 seriously, here is my message:

• Follow the guidelines.
• Start helping rather than hurting.
• Don’t be greedy.
• Shop only for what you must have.
• Volunteer or at least stay home as much as you can.

Covid 19 is serious. Having the products you need to protect yourself is important. This virus could kill all of us, including you. These suggestions will help to keep that from happening.