Some retailers and grocers in the Charlotte area are limiting how many high demand products people can buy as coronavirus fears set off a buying frenzy.

On Wednesday, Mooresville-based Lowe’s Home Improvement CEO Marvin Ellison announced the company is joining other retailers by limiting items such as masks and cleaning supplies.

“We recently started limiting the number of items per purchase to ensure more customers are able to get the products they need,” he said in a statement posted on Lowe’s website. “We’re working to keep our shelves stocked as quickly as possible.”

Customers are limited to 10 items per order for certain supplies. That includes bleach, disinfectants, hand and dish soaps, cleaning gloves, paper towels and bath tissue, bottled water and air purifiers/filters, company spokeswoman Jackie Hartzell said.

Health officials have reiterated in recent days that experts do not recommend face masks as protection for most people. A mask is recommended for anyone who is sick, to reduce the spreading of germs. Health care workers, too, need to wear protective face masks, the News & Observer and McClatchy News has previously reported.

As of Wednesday, there are no reported cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, in Charlotte. Seven cases have been reported in North Carolina and Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency.

Ellison said Lowe’s also is expanding sick leave time for workers, as some other area businesses have done.

“We’ve also put in place new temporary time-off guidelines to give our associates even greater flexibility and pay them for the time they need to stay home and get well,” he said.

Home Depot limit on purchases

The move from Lowe’s to limit the quantity of how much supplies customers may buy follows a similar decision last month from Home Depot. Home Depot announced it has limited the purchases of face masks to 10 per order.

Online Wednesday, the store notes “Due to current events, supplies are limited.” Other items such as disinfectant wipes and toilet paper also show limited stock at stores.

According to Nielsen report Tuesday, hoarding of emergency supplies spikes follow news press conferences about the virus. In the U.S. , there have been record sales for masks and hand sanitizers, antiseptics, cleaners, over-the-counter medicine and also non-perishable foods. There’s also been a spike in sales for dried beans (+37%), canned meat (+32%) and rice (+25%), the report states.

Target, CVS, grocery supplies

Retail giant Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a message online Tuesday that “out of an abundance of caution, we’ve temporarily stopped food sampling in our stores.”

Cornell said key item purchase limits began over the weekend on hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and hand and face wipes.

“As demand for cleaning products, medicine, pantry stock-up items and more remains high, we’re sending more products to our stores as quickly as possible,” Cornell said.

Publix began limiting item purchases Friday on certain items to two per customer, said Maria Brous, Publix director of communications.

Limited items are: hand soaps and sanitizers, rubbing alcohol, facial masks and gloves, disinfectant wipes and sprays, aerosol disinfectant sprays, facial tissue, bleach, and cups, plates and utensils. Limits are company-wide until further notice.

“We are helping our communities prepare by replenishing the stock of essential products such as Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, bleach, water, canned goods and paper products,” Brous said. “We continue to make daily deliveries to our stores and are collaborating with our supplier community, industry groups and community partners.”

Samplings at stores also were discontinued on Saturday, she said, until further notice.

Kroger, parent company of Matthews-based Harris Teeter, also began limiting customers’ purchases at Kroger stores for hand sanitizer, bleach, and some medication, according to industry publication Grocery Dive. However, Harris Teeter as of Wednesday had not announced intent to limit purchases. If stores begin limiting purchase quantities, stores will post that information for customers to know, according to a Harris Teeter spokeswoman.

CVS announced online Monday it is extending customers free home delivery. “Beginning immediately, CVS Pharmacy will waive charges for home delivery of prescription medications, which will help patients avoid visiting their local CVS Pharmacy for refills or new prescriptions,” the company announced online.

A Walmart spokesperson said vie email Wednesday that store managers may limit sales quantities on items in high demand at their discretion to manage inventory.

This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Lowe’s joins list of Charlotte-area stores limiting purchases related to coronavirus."