Photos show the scene inside northern Italy supermarkets as panicked shoppers stock up on supplies amid a surge of the coronavirus

Amid the coronavirus' spread, panicked shoppers in northern Italy have been rushing to stores to stock up on supplies.

Tons of photos and videos showing empty shelves in various supermarkets in the country's north have been posted to Twitter.

Goods like meat, bread, and pasta were reported to be in short supply in some stores.

Source: Bloomberg

Some Italian media also reported a shortage of latex gloves, hand disinfectant gel, and bleach products.

Source: Corriere della sera, CNBC

Like in other countries that have been severely affected by the virus outbreak, masks are typically among the first supplies to run out.

Source: Business Insider

Long lines have been seen outside of supermarkets in northern Italy as panic buying sweeps the area.

Source: Bloomberg

Some supermarkets in the north have started to limit the number of customers allowed inside, as well as the shopping time each person is allowed.

Source: AFP

The panic started after the country witnessed a sudden surge in coronavirus cases. As of Wednesday, 12 people in Italy had died from the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus and 322 cases had been reported.

Source: Business Insider

The two most infected regions are Lombardy and Veneto in the north of Italy, home to the major cities of Milan and Venice.

Source: Business Insider

The country hasn't yet figured out how the virus got into Italy, though most of the cases were originally related to a 38-year-old man who infected several patients and medical workers at a hospital in Lombardy.

Source: CNBC, Bloomberg

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered a lockdown of a dozen towns late on Saturday, affecting about 50,000 people who were told by authorities to stay at home.

Source: Insider

The escalating situation has also prompted the cancellation of the annual Venice carnival and the closing of some major landmarks.

Source: Business Insider

Officials in neighboring countries France and Austria are monitoring their borders for visitors from Italy who could be carrying the virus.

Source: Associated Press

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte dismissed the idea of closing the country's borders at a press conference on Saturday, saying, "I don't think the conditions for such a move exist at this point."

Source: Politico

Paolo Gentiloni, European commissioner for the economy and a former prime minister of Italy, told CNBC that "there is absolutely no reason for panic."

Source: CNBC