Hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and toilet paper are among the first products to sell out at multiple stores across southeast Michigan after two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

Late Tuesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced two people — a man and a woman — were confirmed to have COVID-19 in Wayne and Oakland counties. She declared a state of emergency with the hope of slowing the spread of the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, practicing good hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly and keeping all surfaces clean, is a great start to prevent the virus from spreading.

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Now that COVID-19 has hit home, people are taking that advice very seriously and store shelves of cleaning supplies are being cleaned out.

People have been lining up in stores, such as Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Meijer and more, to stock up on antibacterials and sanitizing products. There have been reports that most stores are out of hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes.

© Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press People grab supplies while shopping at Costco in Auburn Hills on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

An employee at Meijer in Allen Park confirmed the store is sold out of hand sanitizer, but as of 10 a.m. it is not out of any other products. However, employees said the lines are longer than usual as people stock up on cleaning and household items. Meijer in Ann Arbor also ran out of thermometers and disinfectant wipes.

The employee at the Allen Park Meijer said the store restocks every night.

Shoppers that went to Target in Dearborn, 15901 Ford Road, said the store was almost out of antibacterial soap, toilet paper, cleaning sprays and even alcohol, which can be used to make your own sanitizer. The store is out of bleach and hand sanitizer as well as all disinfectant wipes. The store restocks every two weeks

Kroger in Livonia on 8 Mile Road and the Dearborn store at 23303 Michigan Ave. are also out of hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes but are stocked on other products. They have a limit on how many sanitization and cold and flu products can be purchased per customers due to the high demand.

Several Costcos across southeast Michigan also reported that they are out of toilet paper, hand sanitizers, bottled water, and antibacterial and disinfectant wipes. Shoppers said that there was a line outside of Costco on Middle Belt in Livonia before the store opened Wednesday morning.

Meijer CEO and president Rick Keyes addressed the increased demand for sanitation products in a statement Wednesday evening.

“While we take great pride in our high standards of store cleanliness and food safety, we’re redoubling our efforts to proactively sanitize our stores more frequently throughout the day, especially at our check lanes, self-checkouts and service areas,” Keyes said.

The company is also working to keep stores stocked with items that have seen an increase in demand and is prepared to address inventory issues that arise.

“Our company’s purpose is centered around enriching lives in the communities we serve,” Keyes said. “We are committed to the wellbeing of everyone in our communities and thank you for your continued trust.”

Kroger similarly sent an email to customers Wednesday evening, listing measures the stores are taking to ensure the health and safety of both customers and employees.

“We believe that everyone deserves to have access to fresh, affordable food and essentials, especially in times of uncertainty,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said in the statement. “In everything we do, we’re guided by our values and our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit. We strive to make decisions that balance the safety of our associates with our commitments to our customers and communities.”

Stores will have extra hand sanitizers at cashier stations, food service counters and all pharmacy locations, according to the statement. The company also plans to clean commonly used areas more often.

The company will provide financial support to employees who may be affected, using funds from the Helping Hands fund, which is a company-sponsored employee aid fund. Business air travel will also be suspended through the end of this month.

“As America’s grocer, we’re here for our customers and communities when they need us most, with open stores and openhearted hospitality,” McMullen said.

Officials said they are unsure when they will restock due to the high demand and uncertain shipment dates. They encourage customers to call every morning to find out if a new shipment has arrived.

© Diane Weiss, Special to the Free Press A day after the first two cases of coronavirus were reported in Michigan, shopping lines are long and shopping carts are full at the Costco in Madison Heights.

With supplies running low, the CDC says soap and water is the best alternative and hands should be washed for at least 20 seconds.

Whitmer believes "it is very likely that we will see more cases, and that there will be community spread. We need everyone to do their part to prevent the spread of disease as much as possible."

Steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are the same as prevention of the flu and the common cold:

Wash your hands often with soap and water

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands

Don't travel while you're sick

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing

Avoid contact with people who are sick

Stay home if you are sick, and contact your doctor

Free Press news intern Miriam Marini contributed to this r

Contact Bisma Parvez: bparvez@freepress.com You can follow her on Twitter @bismapar

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit stores sell out of hand sanitizers, toilet paper after coronavirus outbreak