Another day of panic and confusion in Corporate Area

Another day of panic and confusion in Corporate Area

BY RACQUEL PORTER

Thursday, March 12, 2020

A day after the first imported case of the novel coronavirus was announced, the Corporate Area was abuzz as scores of people sought to get items that they believe will protect them from being infected.

Some shoppers, fearful of the spread of the virus, were on a quest yesterday to secure face masks, sanitisers, and gloves.

 Iyah Vybz  When the Jamaica Observer visited downtown Kingston yesterday morning a number of wholesalers were seen doing brisk business as Jamaicans crammed into wholesales to get their hands on the items they believe will prevent the spread.

On Princess Street, many desperate shoppers shouted out orders at overwhelmed attendants to attain varied quantities of supplies for their homes, offices, as well as for retail purposes.

“Beg yuh one fi di basic school,” a shopper shouted as her voice competed with the chorus of others.

“Thelma, please sell mi one deh,” another shopper said out loud.

“Miss Thelma, please, a New York mi a send it, none nuh deh a New York, a nuh lie mi a tell,” one woman pleaded, while other shoppers who were not being attended.

Moments later some shoppers were left disappointed when news came that the stock of items in that establishment had been exhausted.

By this time, part-time vendor Moseh Dunn entered the wholesale shouting: “Fifty dollars give you gloves!”

Clutching to a box of gloves, Dunn told the Observer that he had sold a number of boxes, each containing 100, since the announcement on Tuesday.