from ZeroHedge:

As concerns of a Covid-19 outbreak increase across the US, Costco stores are experiencing the second weekend of panic-buying of food, water, and hand sanitizers.

Last weekend we noted how the “great panic of 2020 is underway” as Americans made a mad dash to Costco stores and other big-box retailers to hoard supplies. Costco CFO Richard Galanti told investors during an earnings call last week that buying panic has “been nuts” adding that  he attributes “this to concerns over the coronavirus.”

Stock prices for Walmart and Target have also benefited from the spread of the deadly virus, as people preparing for a quarantine situation load up shopping carts with bottled water, canned soup, instant mac and cheese and everything else that they could possibly need to wait out the virus. But the panic-buying has been leading to shortages and leaving people on edge. –WaPo

On the East Coast, tens of millions of Americans woke up on Saturday morning and heard the news about 44 total confirmed virus cases in New York, with a majority in Westchester, a suburb of NYC. PIX11 News’ Cristian Benavides tweeted a video of the panic that is developing in NYC this morning. He shows a long line of cars waiting to get into a Costco in Astoria, a neighborhood in Queens.

Here’s another look at the line for Costco in Astoria that continues to grow. As New Yorkers stock up on supplies over coronavirus fears @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/KQ75Yz3J6r

— Cristian Benavides (@cbenavidesTV) March 7, 2020

ABC13 Houston reported, “We’re seeing extremely long line at the Costco on Richmond this morning. Many people are trying to stock up on sanity items and water amid the coronavirus fears.”

Stamford Plus magazine tweeted a picture of a Costco in Connecticut with “much bigger than usual” crowds.

The crowds in Costco in Connecticut are much bigger than usual for Saturday #COVID19 #coronavirusinCT pic.twitter.com/fDuUq3O6wL

— Stamford Plus (@stamfordplus) March 7, 2020

One Costco shopper was spotted in a hooded bio hazmat suit at an unidentifiable store.

Wholly freaking Geezuss!