Local businesses are already feeling the impact of COVID-19 even with no cases of the virus yet reported in the Panhandle region.
Reports from other parts of the nation of people stockpiling or hoarding supplies became a reality here late last week when people began buying up local inventories of toilet paper and other goods. Many, if not most, of the buyers were from out of town. Several told an Enterprise correspondent that they were returning from ski trips in the Colorado mountains to their homes in the Dallas and Houston areas.
Sources told the Enterprise that Lowe’s Family Center did more business on Friday than it did the day before Thanksgiving, which is typically its busiest time of the year. Limits were put on how many packages of toilet paper and paper towels could be bought on Saturday. On Sunday those limits were extended to most other items in the store when biscuits and eggs started flying off the shelves. Customers are only allowed two of any one item.
Tuesday afternoon, Lowe’s shelves were bare of Lysol spray cans and sanitizing hand wipes such as Clorox wipes. Beans, rice, eggs, milk, and bananas were among food items that were quickly disappearing from store shelves.
On Monday, Dollar General released a company statement saying it would dedicate the first hour of each shopping day to senior shoppers, as well as amend store operating hours beginning March 17. Clarendon’s Dollar General was also hard hit by people buying up staple goods.
Additionally, all Dollar General stores plan to close one hour earlier than current close times to allow employees to clean and re-stock store shelves, as well as for their health and wellbeing. Stores will continue to maintain current opening hours.
Throughout the community, businesses are doing what they can to protect the safety of their staffs and customers. The state has also released guidelines governing procedures and visitations at daycare centers and long-term care facilities.
Gov. Greg Abbott last week declared a state of disaster in all Texas counties due to the virus, and President Donald Trump declared the virus a national emergency. Both actions free up state and federal resources to combat the spread of the disease.
Small businesses and non-profits impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak maybe eligible for to apply for disaster loans. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has designated COVID-19 as a qualifying event for the provision of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses and private non-profits in affected communities. Texas is currently working with SBA to qualify for this declaration.
The SBA says some organizations that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an EIDL of up to $2 million, which will provide the necessary working capital to help businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster. EIDL assistance will only be available to small businesses when the SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.
For information, contact the SBA by calling toll free 1-800-659-2955.
[…] stores were being pillaged. Locals, used to recognizing their fellow shoppers, suspected the crowds emptying the shelves at their only grocery store came from out of […]