Pharmacies and grocery stores are starting to ration hand sanitizer as Americans stockpile amid panic over coronavirus spread
- Amid hand sanitizer shortages driven by the spread of the novel coronavirus, customers across the US have reported hand sanitizer rations in stores.
- Target, Shop Rite, and some other stores have already implemented limits of 4-6 bottles of hand sanitizer per person.
- National chains like CVS have stated that a possible ration is "under review" while they're stocking up and working to fix temporarily shortages. Some individual stores are already limiting purchases to 1-2 bottles per person.
- While hand sanitizer can help prevent the spread of pathogens, the best defense is still washing your hands, experts say.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the US and worldwide, growing awareness of the need for good hygiene has prompted a wave of demand of disinfectants like hand sanitizer, and concerns about shortages.
Insider went to four downtown New York City pharmacies - two CVS and two Duane Reade locations - and found all of them were completely out of hand sanitizer.
At one of them, disinfectant sprays were also almost entirely sold out (although the reporter did observe one customer buying large boxes of disposable gloves).
Employees had the same response at each business - there's a nationwide shortage affecting the company warehouse and it's not entirely clear when there will be more.
Half a dozen other pharmacies stores contacted via phone reported a similar situation.
Some corporations are already limiting purchases nationwide, while others have implemented store-specific policies
Target and Shop Rite both confirmed (via emails with representatives) that limits have already been implemented at stores nationwide.
At Target, hand sanitizer, as well as face and hand wipes and disinfectant wipes, are limited to 6 per customer. Shop Rite is limiting hand sanitizer purchases to 4 per customer, a restriction which also applies to items like disinfectant cleaners and wipes, bar and liquid soaps, and water, a spokesperson confirmed.
Other large chains like CVS and Walgreens have not yet implemented such company-wide policies, but according to company representatives. However, limits have been reported at certain stores.
Insider contacted over a dozen pharmacies via phone - employees at one CVS location in Fair Lawn, New Jersey confirmed that they were out of hand sanitizer, but would implement a limit of one bottle of hand sanitizer per person when it was back in stock.
Several employees at Duane Reade were unable to say whether a restriction would be placed on hand sanitizer when its back in stock. CVS employees were similarly uncertain about possible purchase limits, although one New Jersey employee reached by phone confirmed that there would not be a limit on purchases as of yet.
According to Joe Goode, senior director of corporate communications for the company, CVS has not currently implement a limit on hand sanitizer, but such a policy is "under review."
"We are working with our suppliers to meet customer demand for hand sanitizers. This demand may cause temporary shortages of these products at some store locations and we are re-supplying those stores as quickly as possible," Goode told Insider via email.
Walgreens has also not yet implemented a policy of limiting purchases, corporate media representative Alex Brown told Insider via email.
A representative of Rite Aid declined to comment on whether that chain would be limiting purchases, directing inquiries to the hand sanitizer manufacturers and suppliers.
Supermarket chain Kroger has already implemented a five-item limit on sanitizers and other products, Business Insider previously reported.
New York's governor announced the states is producing free hand sanitizer made by prison inmates - but some people are making their own at home
On Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state would begin producing its own hand sanitizer using labor from prison inmates.
However, if your local pharmacy or convenience store is running low on hand sanitizer, consider making your own with a rubbing alcohol solution.
Finally, remember that washing your hands with good old fashioned soap and water is still the best defense, and there doesn't seem to be a soap shortage looming anytime soon.
Read more:
How to find an effective germ-killing hand sanitizer amidst the Purell shortage
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