CNN:

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, households across the country are hunkering down and emptying out store shelves.

Toilet paper has a become the ultimate symbol of the panic buying; it’s seemingly scooped up as soon as new rolls hit the shelves.

Companies that help supply these everyday paper products are stunned and trying to adjust to this rapidly evolving new normal in consumer behavior.

They’re faced with tradeoffs. Many were already operating their manufacturing facilities 24/7 prior to the pandemic. Now, some are limiting their facilities to essential workers and contractors. It’s unclear, however, what they will do in the event that those workers get sick.

“If you ask me why everyone is grabbing toilet paper, I can’t really explain it,” said Tom Sellars, CEO of Sellars Absorbent Materials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His company is a processor and converter of paper and related products.

My wife and I were at Costco yesterday and there wasn’t a single sheet of toilet paper or paper towel available. Nor was there any liquid hand soap. I spoke to a Costco employee about the toilet paper situation and he shook his head saying, “We get new supplies every morning and they are sold out by 10am. What I don’t understand is I’ve sold maybe 10 people Vitamin C supplements which you’re more likely to need than extra toilet paper!”