In an eerie reminder of the days when Americans scrambled to get toilet paper at the beginning of the pandemic, store shelves throughout the United States are once again left barren amid a surge in coronavirus cases and supply-chain issues.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Shoppers confronted empty shelves at a grocery store in Virginia. As more Americans have been forced to quarantine amid the Omicron surge – either because they contracted the virus or were forced to self-isolate for five days – the demand for groceries increased, according to Reuters.
QUEENS, NEW YORK: One supermarket in Ridgewood, Queens only had a few boxes left on its shelves on Monday. Supplies have remained low as workers throughout the country call out sick with Omicron and transportation costs are increasing, creating a new round of backlogs at processed food and produce companies.
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA: Toilet paper and paper towel shelves were once again empty this week, bringing back eerie reminders of the beginning of the pandemic when toilet paper was in short supply.
When consumers are lucky enough to find the items they need, the prices may be exorbitant. Last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index jumped 7 percent in 2021 – the quickest rate since 1982 – with the cost of cereal up 6 percent, bacon up 19 percent, steak up 21 percent and eggs up 11 percent.
The Omicron surge has led to many of the problems in the industry, as more and more workers in various fields call out sick or have to quarantine because they were exposed to someone with the variant.
NEW JERSEY: A woman had to scrounge for cat food as nearly empty shelves were seen at a Walmart. Compounding the issue are ongoing supply-chain issues with many cargo ships still docked outside the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation´s largest, waiting to unload.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: There was virtually no meat left on the shelf at one grocery store in Virginia. John Catsimatidis, CEO of the New York City supermarket chain Gristedes, told Fox News that the supply chain problems were severe. ‘Omicron is taking its toll at different levels of the supply chain,’ he said. ‘Whether it’s the warehouses, whether it’s the selectors, the drivers, the loaders — and as they call in sick, there are interruptions.’
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA: A store had to apologize for its lack of toilet paper and paper towels.
NEW JERSEY: A man walked through empty isles at a Walmart store on January 14.
NEW JERSEY: One aisle was completely out of stock at the Walmart, as out-of-stock levels rise to 12 percent.
DENVER, COLORADO: The milk options at a Target store in Colorado remained scarce on Saturday.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Everything from household goods to food supplies are in short supply.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Even several medicines were out of stock amid the Omicron surge and supply-chain issues.
NEW JERSEY: There were barely any drinks left at an Acme store in New Jersey on Friday.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Meats especially have been in short supply as the prices for the few that are available have skyrocketed amid record-setting inflation.
DENVER, COLORADO: A smattering of loaves of bread dotted otherwise empty shelves in a Target store.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Nearly empty shelves are seen in the paper goods section of a supermarket in Florida.
Congresswoman Kat Commack, of Florida, also wrote that ’empty shelves at grocery stores across the country are becoming more common. This is #BareShelvesBiden at work,’ with other conservatives using the opportunity to attack President Joe Biden.
