Panic buying continues as Covid cases surge

A surge in Covid-19 cases, fluctuating supply of fresh food and fears about lockdown have made citizens empty shelves of supermarkets -- again.

Adding to the panic was a voice recording saying the Legislative Council is planning to vote on a seven-day citywide lockdown – which has already been refuted by authorities. 

At a supermarket on Po Man Street, Shau Kei Wan, all eggs were gone except a box of broken ones.

The supermarket’s butcher stall stopped selling fresh meat entirely, after local meat supply dropped due to infections at slaughterhouses. Other products, including rice, vegetables, canned food, and toilet paper remain in stock. 

Similarly, vegetables, fruits, and frozen meats at a supermarket in Tung Chung have been emptied from shelves.

Crowds formed at a Yuen Long vegetable stall where dozens of people were in line to stock up on vegetables for the coming days.

The panic buying is reminiscent of the earlier days of the pandemic in 2020 when citizens rushed to stockpile food as well as other items such as toilet paper.