UK government: More than enough food to go around

The British government said panic buying of groceries because of the coronavirus pandemic was leaving frontline medical workers unable to get the food supplies they need.

UK Environment Secretary George Eustice urged the public to consider “buying more than you need may mean that others are left without.”

With Britons told to stay mostly at home and restaurants closed to slow the spread of the virus, some supermarkets are having runs on daily of staples including rice, pasta, fruit and vegetables.

Eustice urged restraint, saying “there is more than enough food to go around.”

The government has loosened the limit on deliver drivers’ hours and lifted night-time delivery curfews so stores can restock more quickly.

Worldwide, more than 275,000 people have been infected and more than 11,400 have died. Over 88,000 have recovered, most of them in China.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.