J. Simpkins of The Service Group has had to shut down public restrooms in four of the buildings he maintains across Alabama, reports Birmingham-based ABC 33 40. Over the past week, Simpkins says he has noticed that supplies have been quickly and consistently disappearing within the commercial buildings, forcing the restrooms to be closed.
A similar situation is taking place in Jefferson County, Alabama. Tahira Khadair leases an office and finally asked her staff to start working from home because of the restroom situation in the building — stock was vanishing. She tells ABC 33 40 that the toilet paper, hand soaps and sanitizers were all being removed not only from the restrooms themselves, but from the stock room, too.
Cleaning managers suspect the stocking shortages are a direct result of desperate consumers hording supplies in responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.