Can’t find toilet paper in Hong Kong? Crowdsourced map fights coronavirus hoarding

Inspired by a controversial Hong Kong protest map, a team of developers hopes to help people track shortages of things like face masks and avoid panic buying

Long queues for surgical masks have become a common sight in Hong Kong as people seek to protect themselves from the new coronavirus. (Picture: May Tse/SCMP)

When people awoke in Hong Kong on Thursday morning, anyone who needed to buy toilet paper would have found barren shelves across the city’s supermarkets.

Rumors of shortages spurred by fears of the coronavirus outbreak in China sent Hongkongers into a shopping frenzy, clearing supermarket aisles of rice, bleach, instant noodles and frozen dishes. Face masks and hand sanitizer have already been scarce commodities for weeks, with lines of thousands of people snaking out in front of stores. Prices of masks have soared.
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