GALLERY: Alberton consumers and businesses prepare for Covid-19

While many residents are panicking because of the outbreak of coronavirus, some businesses are booming in sales.

Consumers have everything stacked in their trolleys, except for hygiene products (mostly sanitisers), which are almost running out in most retail stores.

A number of consumers made their way to different stores to purchase cleaning and hygiene products on March 16.

The RECORD visited local stores and businesses and found that shelves with products such as hand sanitisers and cleaning products were mostly out of stock.

This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech announcing that the Covid-19 pandemic had been declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.

In his speech, he stated that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a global pandemic.

“Mass celebrations of upcoming national days such as Human Rights Day and other large government events will be cancelled.

“Schools will be closed from Wednesday, 18 March, and will remain closed until after the Easter Weekend.To compensate, the mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week,” he said.

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Ashlynn Howard, a manager at Alberton City’s Vodacom store, said: “After hearing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech, we decided to promote hygiene by wearing gloves.”

Thinani Dlamini, a consumer, said: “The main reason for buying sanitisers is because schools are closing soon and our children will be at home and we want to make sure that they are clean.”

GALLERY: