U.S. Holds Off Urging Face-Mask Use But Virus Fears Fan Sellout

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. health authorities may not be calling for the use of face masks to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus just yet, but shortages appear to be emerging across the U.S. anyway.

Social media users across the country posted photos of empty store shelves, attributing the rush for face masks and hand sanitizers to heightened fears of the respiratory disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday afternoon that it doesn’t currently recommend the use of face masks to prevent the spread of the disease.

“Take everyday preventive actions, like staying home when you are sick and washing hands with soap and water,” it tweeted.

Some users on Twitter, meanwhile, reported that it wasn’t just face masks that were hard to come by, saying items such as bottle water, bleach and paper towels were also sold out.

Read More: CDC Will Test Many More People Under New Rules: Virus Update

To contact the reporter on this story: Nathan Crooks in Miami at ncrooks@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Polina Noskova at pnoskova@bloomberg.net, Sebastian Tong

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