Partial Convenience Store Self-Diagnosis Kit Orders Halted... "Second Mask Nightmare"

Sales Surge After 10,000 Confirmed Cases... Delivery Sales Increase 23 Times

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Recently, as the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has surged and the diagnostic testing system has shifted to focus on self-diagnostic tests, a shortage of self-diagnostic kits is occurring in the distribution sector. Some convenience stores have even restricted orders for self-diagnostic kits.

According to CU on the 7th, orders for COVID-19 self-diagnostic kits were suspended on the 4th. This happened despite securing more than three times the quantity compared to December of last year, as supply could not keep up with demand.

At major convenience stores, sales of self-diagnostic kits sharply increased starting from the 26th of last month, when the number of new COVID-19 cases surpassed 10,000. At CU, sales of self-diagnostic kits increased 12-fold from the 26th of last month to the 2nd of this month compared to the previous month. During the same period, GS25 saw a 12-fold increase, 7-Eleven a 9-fold increase, and Emart24 a 12-fold increase.

Non-face-to-face demand for purchasing self-diagnostic kits through delivery order services also increased. Delivery sales increased 13-fold at CU and 23-fold at GS25.

A convenience store industry official said, "Since these products have expiration dates, it seems companies could not produce and stockpile them in advance. However, as demand suddenly increased, a shortage similar to that of masks is occurring," adding, "It also seems that the currently produced quantities are being supplied to the government first."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.