Stores setting limits on sanitizing, cold and flu products amid demand from coronavirus fears
Kroger is joining stores like Home Depot, Amazon and eBay are limiting the amount of, face masks, sanitization and cold and flu products you can buy.
The new action comes amid a rash of demand for the products triggered by the spread of coronavirus across the United States.
Long lines at stores and panic buying on cleaning products throughout the country are stretching American retailers' ability to keep up with demand. Shoppers are posting pictures on social media of lines snaking around Costco and empty shelves of sanitizers at CVS, Walgreens and other drug stores.
Demand for products like hand sanitizers, face masks and cleaning wipes has spiked, according to CVS, Walgreens and others. CVS warned it may cause supply shortages.
Kroger posted a notice to its website Monday, saying, "Due to high demand and to support all customers, we will be limiting the number of Sanitization, and Cold and Flu related product to 5 each per order. Your order may be modified at time of pickup or delivery."
Additional details were not provided.
The new limitations seem to only apply to online sales. It is unclear if the limitations apply to in-store purchases. WLWT has reached out to Kroger for comment.
Kroger is one of the nation's first retailers to limit supplies. Many across the country appear to be reacting to news of the spread of COVID-19 by stocking up on face masks, hand sanitizers and non-perishable items.
Cases of the virus in the U.S. have now risen to more than 100. It has been reported in 12 states, with the majority of cases being reported in California and Washington, where six people have died.
About of quarter of those cases were likely transmitted through U.S. communities, officials said, meaning they were not travel-related.
Online retailer Amazon said it has pulled more than 1 million products for price gouging or falsely advertising effectiveness against the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, state and health officials maintain there is no need to panic.
"We've seen an increase of cases in the United States over the weekend," U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said Monday. "I want folks to understand that we knew this was coming, we told folks that this was going to happen and it is why we've been preaching preparedness from the very start."
He added, "Caution is appropriate, preparedness is appropriate, panic is not."
CNN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.