Hong Kong: Armed gang robs toilet rolls amid Coronavirus panic-buying

Hong Kong is witnessing a panic-buying due to vel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which sometimes les to long queues in supermarkets. In desperation to stock up necessary products, toilet rolls have become hot property in semi-automous region and led to a bizarre situation.

Hong Kong police are looking for armed robbers who stole hundreds of toilet rolls amid shorts of supply due to panic-buying. According to media reports, three knife-wielding men threatened a deliveryman and took toilet paper worth more than $130. A truck driver has been arrested in case outside a supermarket in Mong Kok.

While authorities have assured of shorts, online rumours have fuelled panic forcing residents to stock supplies. Distrust in authorities after months-long anti-government protests have also amplified situation.

Protests in Hong Kong

On February 15, anti-government protesters in Hong Kong took to streets against government’s plan to turn some buildings in residential area into quarantine centres. Hundreds of protesters marched in multiple towns including Tai Po and Tin Shui Wai and demanded full closure of mainland China border on Saturday.

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Though anti-Beijing protests h subsided due to threat of Coronavirus, demonstrators again came out on streets chanting "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times" and "Oppose pneumonia clinic". residents fear that epidemic clinics will amplify outbreak in semi-automous region and have been demanding to t only drop plan but also close border.

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However, Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam has said that full closure of border from mainland China will be “inappropriate”, “impractical” and “discriminatory”. Lam’s refusal to completely shut down border has again forced residents to come out on streets. China has confirmed 2,048 new cases of coronavirus infections with 105 deaths on February 16, taking death toll due to dely virus to 1,770.

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(With ncy inputs)