Singaporeans are a reactive bunch. With the outbreak of the coronavirus, people are stepping up on their hygiene regime by stocking up on medical masks, antibacterial hand sanitisers, wet wipes, hand washes and other miscellaneous cleaning products.

I can understand why masks are out of stock. It is not an item an average Singaporean keep at home because we have not cultivated the habit of wearing a medical mask when we are sick or to prevent getting infected from others yet. We might have some leftover mask at home from the haze period though.

Our government said there are plenty to go around. I do believe there are a lot of masks in Singapore, just that they are unevenly distributed. Those with connections can get them in bulk easily. This explains how some people can resell or even send it overseas. I don’t see any on sale at retail stores. Can you blame people like me for not trusting the government? Limit the sale and adjust the purchase criteria. Don’t leave it to market forces for goodness sake.

Please don’t give me the crap about no need to wear a mask if I am not sick. I can’t make a sick person wear one so don’t ask me not to wear one. I am pregnant and I already caught the flu a few times from close proximity with sick people that don’t think they are sick. Plus people who were down with the virus did not display symptoms during incubation period. Stop contradicting yourselves lah.

As for the rest of the antibacterial items, shouldn’t you already have the rest of the items at home already? I was surprised when these items were out of stock and started wondering what people have and have not been been using daily.

The second item that is sold out and sparked massive group buy are hand sanitisers. Besides seeing it next to hospital beds, I also know a few mummies who make others use it before touching their babies. I have a lot sitting at home from freebies and some with cute packaging I couldn’t resist buying. To be honest, I tend to forget about them and struggled to finish using them. I use them when I can’t find a basin and soap to wash my hands and if I don’t have wet wipes. Hand sanitisers doesn’t feel cleaner. When do you use them and at which interval of the day to you use them?

The shelf displaying antibacterial wet wipes was empty at my usual place. The second time I saw it, I bought 5 packs since I ran out of it and may not be able to get it the next time. The third time I saw it, the display area had shifted to the shop’s entrance and price had increased. Really retailers… 🙄

I use wet wipes to clean my work laptop, work station, handphone (since I do have the habit of bringing it to the toilet), on hawker tables with stains and on my hands after I’m done eating outside. I have a pack in every bag. Wet wipes is an everyday item for me but I am not a fan of stocking it up because they dry up and it becomes overpriced dry tissue. Hence, I can’t comprehend the sudden surge in demand leading to shortages. You mean people are only starting to use it now?

As for hand wash, aren’t you already using hand wash after every visit to the toilet and have a few packs or bottles of hand wash at home to standby when the current bottle runs out? It takes me ages to finish a bottle of hand wash at home. This kind of item can also run out?

Lastly, disinfectant products. NEA came out with a list of household products effective in combating the coronavirus recently. Surprise no surprise, I already have most of the items! Add a few caps of Dettol or Walch or Mr Muscle to your laundry, add to floor cleaner etc. What have you panic buyers not been using to clean your place with all these while? Some may say these products are pricier but my argument is these products take ages to finish and the cost evens out in the long run. What is the point of engaging in the act of cleaning when it is not effective?

Witnessing these antibacterial products being out of stock, it means more people are conscious about hygiene and cleanliness which is not a bad thing. Hopefully this change in buying behaviour is sustainable when we continue with the good hygiene habits and stocks will be replenished and readily available at lower price with increased demand in the near future.

That being said, Singapore is still a small country with a dense population, proximity to others is close. We are consistently in top 5 of the coronavirus infection chart. Prevention is always better than cure. Avoid crowded areas, keep your hands to yourselves and try to stay safe everyone!