Nutley ShopRite Reportedly ‘Cleaned Out’ As Coronavirus Hits NJ

NUTLEY, NJ — Empty shelves and long lines were reported at a Nutley supermarket this week as the state continues to cope with the novel coronavirus.

Several shoppers reported frustrating experiences at the ShopRite on Franklin Avenue earlier this week, particularly on Thursday, when six new cases of the virus were reported in New Jersey.

“ShopRite in Nutley is pretty cleaned out,” one person tweeted Thursday night, sharing a photo of people combing through rows of near-empty shelves in the paper goods aisle. “My poor husband has been in queue for over 35 minutes trying to get some groceries. This is not a drill folks. Prepare, be calm, and think sensibly.”

“Nutley ShopRite was packed on Sunday morning but bearable,” another local shopper wrote Thursday night. “I can’t even imagine what it’s like now.”

The frenzy reportedly continued Friday morning.

“People are lining up outside like the Nutley ShopRite has new iPhones in there,” another Twitter account posted.

While he declined to mention the specific location, a Nutley Police Department spokesperson confirmed that there was an “overcrowding” situation at a Franklin Avenue establishment on Thursday.

“The management feared that with the large crowd of customers, that it could become unsafe,” police stated in a release. “The store doors were temporarily locked until the crowd settled without incident.”

Nutley isn't the only town where buying frenzies have been reported in the past week.

The uncertainty surrounding the new coronavirus is spurring a consumer rush across the nation on items including hand sanitizers, disinfectants and enough nonperishable food to last two weeks — the latter being the recommendation of public health officials if a self-quarantine becomes necessary.

"We're receiving an abnormal number of messages that convey the same threat," said Christopher Morin, a teacher at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. "That's interpreted by our brain as a life-or-death challenge unless we start storing supplies — as if we had to hide in a bunker for many, many months."

• See related article: America's Coronavirus Virus: Psychology Of Panic And Stockpiling

CORONAVIRUS IN NEW JERSEY

Twenty-nine people have been diagnosed with presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Thursday afternoon, with one person dying from the disease. Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a state of emergency, and schools across the state have begun to cancel classes. READ MORE: NJ Coronavirus Updates (Here's What You Need To Know)

In general — depending on where they live — New Jersey residents still face a “low risk” of contracting COVID-19, State Epidemiologist Christina Tan said during a Wednesday press conference.

There have been more than 1,250 confirmed U.S. cases of the new coronavirus as of Friday morning according to Johns Hopkins University, which said the disease also has killed 33 people nationwide.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

CORONAVIRUS NEWS IN ESSEX COUNTY

Catch up on some recent stories involving COVID-19 in Essex County. (Click headlines to read article)

Woman, 66, Hospitalized In Montclair With Coronavirus

An Essex County resident is among six, new presumptive positive cases in New Jersey, state officials said.

Coronavirus: Saint Barnabas Hospital Changes Visitor Policies

Saint Barnabas hospital and other RWJBarnabas Health facilities in NJ are temporarily restricting visits due to concerns over COVID-19.

Coronavirus? Nope, Allergies Diverted Newark-Bound Flight: Report

A group of passengers panicked when they saw a fellow traveler coughing and sneezing. It turns out he just had allergies, reports say.

Coronavirus: NJIT Moves Classes Online, Limits Visits

NJIT administrators are encouraging students who live on campus to stay away until regular university operations resume.

Bloomfield Taking Coronavirus 'Very Seriously,' Mayor Says

The Bloomfield Township Health Department released a video to update residents about COVID-19.

Newark Police: False Alarms On Coronavirus Will Be Prosecuted

"Any false reporting of the coronavirus in our city will result in criminal prosecution," Newark's top cop said.

Coronavirus: 2 Big St. Patrick's Day Parades Canceled In Essex County

A pair of highly anticipated holiday parades in Essex County have been postponed. Organizers are planning to reschedule both events.

WHAT IS COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

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