Toilet paper sells out as COVID-19 supply chain fears mount

Toilet paper was still available at Market Basket earlier today, but it may not last the night. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Stores across the Greater Rochester area are out of toilet paper today as evergrowing worries over supply chains amid coronavirus fears begin to take their toll.

A Walmart employee said today they didn't know when another shipment would be in, but that when it did, customers would be limited to two packages (not rolls) apiece.

Facebook posts indicated there were still plenty of other stores that had shelves stocked with rolls, but it appears the options may be dwindling.

The Walmart employee we spoke with today said they thought the store still had tissues, but those are also limited to two per customer.

"Almost anything to do with this is sold out," they said. "Wipes, sanitizer, no alcohol, anything to do with COVID-19."

A Rochester Market Basket employee said they still had some on the shelves but it was likely they wouldn't last the day.

A Rochester Hannaford employee who didn't want to be identified by name said they had already run out.

A nurse practitioner today said they thought the shortages could also be due to folks being told to quarantine or were voluntarily quarantining who wanted to stock up first. The source did not want to be identified as they were not officially approved to speak for the medical community.