Search for alcohol gel grows more than 5,000% on site that compares prices

Since cases of coronavirus increased considerably in Brazil, searches for alcohol gel 70%, the most indicated to prevent the disease, jumped 5,152% on the platform that compares the prices of pharmacy items Consult Remedies. To date, the country has recorded 1,819 confirmed cases of the disease and 34 deaths. The data, obtained by EXAME, compare the period between March 16 and 20 with the previous week, from March 9 to 13. The dates with the considerable increase in searches also coincide with the various isolation and economic measures adopted by the municipal, state and federal governments to slow the progress of covid-19. The platform has 20 million accesses per month and registers an approximate number of 108 registered pharmacies, among small stores and chains throughout Brazil. Since last Monday, 16, the average number of visits to the platform has jumped to 1 million per day. In São Paulo, searches for alcohol gel increased by 4,905.36%. According to the platform, there is no longer the product in stock in the registered pharmacies. The same occurs in Rio de Janeiro and Brasília where demand for the item grew 1,440% and 1,457%, respectively. Another product that also registered a considerable increase was that of surgical masks. Nationwide, search volume grew by 624%.