The Prime Minister of the Netherlands has offered reassurances amid the global COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, telling citizens there is no shortage of toilet paper.
Mark Rutte visited a supermarket on Thursday to show support for workers managing the shopping frenzy of people panic buying essential items in case they have to self-isolate.
Many countries including Australia and New Zealand have been selling out of toilet paper leading to brawls and one man being tasered in NSW.
Dutch supermarkets shelves have mostly refilled following a stockpiling episode last week that left some citizens concerned about shortages.
"Yes, I have enough," Rutte told one shopper. "They have it (on shelves) again."
"But there's enough in the whole country for the coming 10 years," he said.
"We can all poop for 10 years."
He says he didn't understand why people thought they needed so much toilet paper.
"I don't know what people are doing with them. I think they hang with it or use it as a curtain. I don't know."
Rutte posted to Twitter on Thursday night saying supermarket employees are working hard to ensure everyone can "simply go shopping".
"When I walked through the store, I saw that they are doing well. Give them space for this and keep sufficient distance."
Reuters
