The provincial government is urging Ontarians to practise “normal grocery buying habits” as store shelves across the Greater Toronto Area have emptied of supplies — including hand sanitizer, toilet paper, cleaning supplies and drugs — amid panicked buying spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As lineups of shoppers with overflowing carts snaked through grocery store aisles — and in at least one case, around a Scarborough Costco building before the doors even opened Saturday — the province reassured Ontarians that the food supply chain is “robust” and the distribution system will continue to operate as normal.

“Rest assured, we have plenty of food that will continue to reach grocery stores on a regular basis,” read a statement Saturday from Health Minister Christine Elliott and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman.

“Please practise normal grocery buying habits.”

Since the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — a pandemic, grocery stores have been flooded with customers, prompting retailers to provide reassurance, too, that empty shelves are a result of a heightened surge in demand, not a sudden supply issue.

“As customers stock up, some items will be sold out. We know the frustration of an empty shelf,” said Galen Weston, executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited, noting a team has been assembled to rapidly restock food, health and cleaning items.

Reams of shoppers have been flocking to grocery stores across the Greater Toronto Area and throughout Canada, a phenomenon widely referred to as “panic buying.” As the Star visited grocery stores around the city Saturday, shoppers could be seen leaving the store with overflowing bags and carts — many clutching multi-packs of toilet paper.

“I lost the car,” said Avery Sealy as she commandeered a cart overflowing with $500 worth of groceries — cereal, noodles, juice packs, a giant tube of ground beef — scanning the full parking lot at an Etobicoke Costco Saturday morning.

Staring down three weeks at home with three kids under 15 with Ontario schools being closed down for two weeks starting after March break, Sealy wanted to stock up items for her children. The groceries will last for two weeks or more, Sealy hopes — “I’m just being cautious.”

“We aren’t sure of the future, and what will happen,” said Perumal Ramar, leaving Costco with his three roommates, each clutching a bulk supply of necessities: a 12-pack of toilet paper, several dozen eggs, bananas, a 10L bottle of dishsoap and a bag of milk.

Although the empty shelves understandably inspire panic, health experts stress Canadians must be prepared yet should not overreact. The urge to overbuy prompts others to follow suit, a phenomenon only worsened by photos of depleted meat freezers and ravaged medicine stocks widely circulating on social media in recent days.

“Because everyone else is hoarding, it’s like, ‘OK, well, grab what you can,’” said Mark Moffatt, who spent Saturday morning picking up his family’s usual necessities at stores including the Farm Boy on Lake Shore Boulevard East.

As he loaded groceries into the car, Anya Moffatt, 9, sat perched on the trunk, next to two 12-packs of toilet paper.

Across the street at FreshCo, employees busily unloaded stacks of boxes amid a produce section drained from a busy morning. Aisle eight — bodywash, soap, bathroom tissue — was virtually depleted.

Outside, a worker from a janitorial company stood with a cloth and spray bottle, diligently spraying down carts before entering to disinfect surfaces inside.

Employees from several grocery stores who were not authorized to speak on the record said they were busy and tired, but stressed that more supplies were coming — it was just a matter of getting stock back to the store and onto the shelves.

As they continue to stay open to the public, grocery chains have announced increased sanitation practices, including cleaning checkouts and freezer doors. In a statement Saturday, the LCBO confirmed its stores, too, remain open but cleaning and sanitation protocols have been elevated.

“We are proactively planning for increased demand,” reads the statement.

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The Public Health Agency of Canada has advised Canadians to stock up on essentials but “avoid panic buying.” Canadians should fill their cupboards with non-perishable food items, “so that you do not need to go shopping if you become sick.” Recommended items include dried pasta and canned soups and vegetables.

“It is easier on the supply chain if people gradually build up their household stores instead of making large-scale purchases all at once,” reads the advisory, updated Saturday. “To do this, you can add a few extra items to your grocery cart every time you shop.”

The agency also recommends doing grocery shopping at off-peak hours, to avoid exposure to others. Canadians are being encouraged to practise “social distancing” — reducing contact with others by avoiding unnecessary outings to slow the spread of the virus.

Ontario reported 24 new cases of COVID-19 in the province Saturday morning, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 103, with five classified as resolved.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis

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