Australia's COVID-19 Outbreak Triggers A Toilet Paper Crisis

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Australians are hit by panic buying after an appeal from the government to quarantine themselves due to the spread of the corona virus or COVID-19.

They began in droves to buy supplies to last a week or two during isolation. As a result, there is a shortage of hygiene products, especially toilet paper. But why toilet paper?

According to CNN monitoring, Australians flocked to buy toilet paper until several supermarkets were seen emptying their supplies. This has been seen in several retail stores in the city of Brisbane since Wednesday, March 4.

In response to this, one of Australia's largest supermarkets Woolworths will limit the shopping, especially toilet paper there. The goal is so that other customers can access the goods needed for sanitation.

As is well known, long queues that occur at shops and retailers are increasingly expanding to meet cleaning product supplies. Even Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy urged people not to panic in buying supplies.

It was so scarce, an Australian newspaper The NT News printed an additional eight pages to be used as toilet paper. The back eight pages are left blank, unless there is a watermark image and a border for cutting the paper so that it can be used as a tissue.

YES, WE ACTUALLY DID PRINT IT #toiletpapercrisis pic.twitter.com/jusP50ojYu

- The NT News (@TheNTNews) March 4, 2020

It turned out that this was not only the case in Australia. Quoting The Conversation, several countries such as Japan, the United States and New Zealand are also experiencing scarcity of sanitary goods. Now toilet paper is a rare item that is very valuable there. But why toilet paper?

According to Niki Edwards, Queensland University of Technology School of Public Health and Social Work Senior Lecturer, toilet paper is like a basic necessity for many people. Edwards called it a control item. "We often use it for tidying or cleaning," he was still quoted as saying by The Conversation.

People in Australia are not particularly interested in substitutes. The supermarket shelves are still littered with tissue sheets and other paper towels.

Edwards said, when people hear about the coronavirus, they are afraid of losing control. "And toilet paper is a way to control hygiene," he said.