Shawdesh Desk:

US President Donald Trump has advised his countrymen against hoarding of essential items as reports of grocery stores being swept by panic buying due to the coronavirus crisis emerged, saying supply chains in the country are the most powerful in the world and there is no shortage of daily goods.

In view of the situation, Trump on Sunday held a meeting with top leaders of the companies that own grocery stores, including Indian-American Vivek Sankaran, who is president and CEO of Albertsons.

I would like to say that people shouldn’t go out and buy. We’re going to be great. We’re going to be so good, Trump told reporters at a White House news conference after a meeting with nearly a dozen grocery store owners.

But you don’t have to buy so much. Take it easy. Just relax. People are going in and they’re buying more. I remember — I guess, during the conversation, Doug of Walmart said that they’re buying more than they buy at Christmas. Relax. We’re doing great. It all will pass, he said.

The White House said that the supply chains in the country were strong and it was unnecessary for citizens to hoard daily essentials.