The pictures seen and shared on many social media platforms are dramatic: a man who appears to be inside a Costco store, climbing scaffolding racks, handing down bags of rice to people below.
Still others, show long lines of people waiting to even get into some Costco stores. Toilet paper and cleaning supplies, along with bread, eggs and milk seem to be the most in-demand items.
While Costco, Walmart and other large retailers in the Saskatoon area are certainly busy, there doesn’t appear to be much concern about stocking up in the event that residents need to stay at home, if they’re affected by coronavirus.
650 CKOM spoke with several people as they left Costco. Every person we spoke with told us buying extra toilet paper and cleaning supplies was part of their usual routine.
Others said they either didn’t expect coronavirus to hit this province nearly as hard as it has in other parts of the country like B.C.’s Lower Mainland, or parts of Ontario, and still others said the concern about the illness is overblown and out of hand.
Anecdotally, one Costco employee told us he was relieved to be finally getting another shipment of toilet paper and paper towels in today; residents have been buying much more than usual. More he said, than he’s ever seen even before expected storms or big sales.
Until Saskatoon has its first reported cases, those we spoke with told us they don’t believe there’s any reason for concern.
So far, Canada has 45 confirmed cases.
Health officials in Saskatchewan have tested 52 people to this point, with 45 cases coming back negative.
Seven results are pending.